Brandon Sun - PRINT EDITION
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A broken window leading to the basement at St. Augustine’s Church is seen on Wednesday following an attempted break-in on Tuesday.
The members of St. Augustine’s Roman Catholic Church, it seems, can have faith in the building’s alarm system.
Police charged a man with attempted break and enter on Wednesday morning after ground-level windows were smashed, triggering the church’s alarm.
"Our security system contacted the police. Police were able to be here within minutes," St. Augustine’s pastor Kevin Smith said.
The attempted break-in through the basement windows happened around 6 a.m. on Tuesday.
However, Smith said the would-be burglar didn’t get in, apparently because he was too big to fit through the windows anyway.
The glass of three windows was smashed. One was smashed out completely, allowing a clear view into the church’s museum, which is housed in the basement.
The museum holds some church artifacts, books and religious items. The area also includes two catacombs where church founders are buried.
However, there are no valuables kept in the museum or basement area and no money.
The culprit also made a failed attempt to break into the church through a basement door.
There’s no dollar figure for the damage done, but Smith said the cost will be covered by insurance.
The church has had an alarm for years, but it upgraded to a model with a better monitoring system about three years ago.
"It works," Smith said.
Brandon Police Service Const. Ron Burgess said police received a report of an alarm at the church at 6:10 a.m.
A suspect was arrested at the scene and a 27-year-old Brandon man is charged with attempted break and enter.
» ihitchen@brandonsun.com
Republished from the Brandon Sun print edition September 13, 2012
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The members of St. Augustine’s Roman Catholic Church, it seems, can have faith in the building’s alarm system.
Police charged a man with attempted break and enter on Wednesday morning after ground-level windows were smashed, triggering the church’s alarm.
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The members of St. Augustine’s Roman Catholic Church, it seems, can have faith in the building’s alarm system.
Police charged a man with attempted break and enter on Wednesday morning after ground-level windows were smashed, triggering the church’s alarm.
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Posted by:Dallan
September 13, 2012 at 9:11 AM
Stupid is as Stupid does!
He will be forgiven but have to answer for his actions one way or another.