Crime & Safety
Arrest Made In Patchogue Church Break-In; Accused Found In Boat
Police received a burglary report in Patchogue just before midnight Wednesday. Police say the burglar was found squatting in a boat.
PATCHOGUE, NY — An arrest has been made in the July break-in of a Patchogue church, and the accused was found squatting in a boat with stolen tools and a BB gun, police said.
Police received a burglary report just before midnight Wednesday, with a Patchogue resident calling 911 to report that someone was trespassing on his Wilmarth Avenue property. Police said they found Bruce Roman, who is homeless, squatting in a boat on the property. Police also found tools and a pellet gun stolen from the resident's garage.
Roman, 28, acknowledged he also broke in to Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church on North Ocean Avenue in Patchogue on July 16. He was charged with two burglary counts and was jailed overnight.
Find out what's happening in Patchoguefor free with the latest updates from Patch.
Roman is expected in court in Central Islip on Thursday.
A message left with an attorney listed for Roman wasn't immediately returned.
Find out what's happening in Patchoguefor free with the latest updates from Patch.
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