Saddle Brook Man Stole Money From Church Poor Boxes: Police

SADDLE BROOK, N.J. — A Saddle Brook man has been charged with breaking into a Saddle Brook Church on Christmas night and stealing money from the poor boxes, police said.

St. Philip the Apostle Church reported Dec. 26 that sometime on either Christmas night or the next morning someone broke a stained glass window, valued at $4,100, and money in the church's poor boxes, said Chief Robert J. Kugler.

Saddle Brook Police previously charged Peter Heitmann with burglarizing a borough home Dec. 26, arrested him Jan. 3 and placed him in the Bergen County Jail, where he was subsequently released from, Kugler said.

Elmwood Park Police arrested Heitmann Feb. 9, the chief said. Heitmann was released Feb. 10 and had an ankle-monitoring bracelet placed on him prior to his release, Kugler said.

Heitmann gave the court the address of the Saddle River Road home he was charged with burglarizing Dec. 26 as the address of where he was staying, Kugler said. Heitman also tampered with his monitoring bracelet Feb. 10, police said.

Heitmann was charged with burglary and criminal mischief in the Saddle Brook church incident, burglary in the Saddle Brook Dec. 26 incident and obstructing the administration of the law and contempt of court regarding tampering with the ankle bracelet, Kugler said.

Clifton Police also charged Heitman with stealing a $15,000 chalice from a church in that jurisdiction, police said.

Heitmann has been remanded to the Bergen County Jail, the chief said.

"Obviously this young man has a problem and needs help. No one in their right mind forcibly breaks into houses of God and steals monies donated to the poor," Kugler said. "I hope he finds the needed help he requires."

Photo: Peter M. Heitmann, 26 — Saddle Brook Police Department/Background image via Shutterstock