Arrest Made After 7th Boston Church Break-In

BOSTON (CBS) - A priest at St. Clement Shrine in Boston's Fenway section says whoever attempted a burglary discovered there Thursday morning is also suspected in a series of burglaries at churches around the city including an earlier one at St. Clement.

Late Thursday, police arrested 44-year-old Richard Shiner of Boston and charged him with breaking into St. Clement and St. Anthony Shrine.

An arrest warrant had been issued earlier in the week for Shiner's capture, for allegedly breaking into church donation boxes with a crowbar or hatchet day and night.

Ron Sanders reports from Boston.

Parishioners at St. Leonard's and Sacred Heart say the thief that hit their churches puts gum on the end of a straw and pulls up dollars that stick to the gum.

Seven church break-ins have been reported over the past two months in Boston.  Boston police are trying to see if there's a connection with the robberies at other churches in the city.

"I think it's rampant because people are stealing, in trouble not being able to work or having money," speculated Anne Sayre who, along other worshippers, learned of the burglary attempt at St. Clement when they went there to pray.  It's believed to have happened sometime late Wednesday night or early Thursday.

A priest on the staff there says it does not appear anything was taken because money tubes that were opened had previously been emptied.

Rev. John Wykes at St. Clement Shrine told WBZ "I think it's pretty horrendous but it shows the desperation doesn't it?  When people put aside their morals for material things we're in a bad way aren't we?" asked Wykes.

A priest in the North End said he and others have seen the burglar running down an alley but could not catch him because he was too fast.