Crime & Safety

Man Arrested for Hazelwood Church Break-ins, Police Say

Hazelwood Police said the man burglarized St. Martin de Porres Catholic Church and Hazelwood Baptist Church two times each.

A man broke into two Hazelwood churches two times each and stole items, police said.

Nelson Thomas, 18, of the 600 block of Holiday Avenue, was charged Thursday with four counts of second-degree burglary, two counts of felony stealing, one count of misdemeanor stealing and first-degree property damage.

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Hazelwood Police said Thomas broke into St. Martin de Porres Catholic Church at 615 Dunn Road on Jan. 1 and stole five Hershey bars and soda. Officers said Thomas also broke into St. Martin de Porres on Dec. 30 and stole a laptop computer and an iPod Touch.

He also is charged with breaking into Hazelwood Baptist Church at 6161 Howdershell Road twice between Aug. 13 and Sept. 28, stealing 66 gift cards. On one occasion, he broke a window that cost $750 to replace, police said.

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Thomas was being held Tuesday in St. Louis County jail. Bail was set at $50,000.

For more crime information on Hazelwood Patch, see the following articles:

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