Video Footage Helped Catch Bloomfield Church Thief: Police

BLOOMFIELD, NJ — Video surveillance footage helped to apprehend an out-of-town man who allegedly stole $75 from donation boxes at Saint Thomas the Apostle Church in Bloomfield, police announced Thursday.

According to the Bloomfield Police Department, the theft took place on Aug. 16 at the church on Byrd Avenue.

Detectives receiving surveillance footage saw a driver pull into the church parking lot in a black Chevrolet Tahoe at 6:33 p.m. He entered the church and ripped the top of a donation box out of the wall, then pried open a candle donation box, authorities said.

In all, the suspect nabbed about $75 in cash, police said.

After conducting an investigation, Bloomfield detectives identified the suspected thief as Carlos Ruiz, 47. Authorities issued a warrant for Ruiz’s arrest; he was taken into custody on Aug. 21 at his home in Pennsauken.

Bloomfield authorities charged Ruiz with theft and criminal mischief. He was transported to the Essex County Correctional Facility to await a pending court date, police said Thursday.

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