Rostraver Police ask for help identifying suspect in church burglary

Rostraver Police are asking the public’s help identifying a man they say broke into St. Anne’s Church Saturday and made off with an unspecified amount of cash and checks.

Detective Kerry August said the suspect pulled into the church parking lot at 1870 Rostraver Road about 10 a.m. in a silver, single-cab pickup truck.

“He left his four-way flashers on the whole time. We believe he left the emergency lights on so if someone else came to the church questioning why he was there, he could say he was having some type of vehicle trouble,” August said.

“It was pretty bold breaking in in broad daylight,” August said.

Police say he entered the sanctuary through a rectory office door. August said investigators believe he used some type of a device to open the door.

“Whatever he used didn’t even leave a scratch,” August said.

Once inside, August said the man removed cash and checks from an office. Police said he may have been familiar with the church layout.

The suspect is described as a white male with a medium build and brown hair. During the theft, he was wearing a tan overcoat, black pullover shirt, gray pants and a black baseball cap with a white logo on the front, August said.

Police released video taken by church security cameras.

Parish officials declined comment. The Roman Catholic Diocese of Greensburg referred inquiries to police.

Anyone with information on the case is asked to call police at 724-929-8811.

Earlier this month, Derry Borough and state police said they were seeking information on a string of break-ins and vandalism at St. Joseph Parish in Derry.

Police in that case are trying to determine who broke into that church and caused thousands of dollars in damages.

Police reported there were five acts of vandalism at the building since Halloween and three break-ins. No arrests have been made in those burglaries.