A 23-year-old man faces up to five years in prison after stealing a donation box from a church in Płońsk, Poland, and attempting to hide from police under plastic sheeting.
Donation Box Stolen from Płońsk Church
On March 20th, police in Płońsk were called to a local church regarding the theft of a donation box containing money left by parishioners.
The parish priest reported the incident occurred between 1:00 PM and 2:00 PM. Church surveillance footage showed a hooded man approaching the altar, moving the donation box, and ultimately stealing it after ensuring the church was empty.
Evidence and Suspect Identification
Police secured surveillance footage and interviewed individuals present at the church and in the surrounding area. They also reviewed city surveillance camera recordings to track the suspect’s movements.
The stolen donation box was found abandoned and empty in a park. This evidence led police to a suspect – a young man from the Lublin Voivodeship who had been working temporary jobs in the Płońsk County.
Arrest and Confession
Police located the suspect in the Wyszogród municipality. During the attempted arrest, the man fled on foot, attempting to lose officers through buildings and a field.
He ultimately lay down under plastic sheeting covering a strawberry plantation, hoping to evade capture, but was quickly apprehended. The 23-year-old confessed to the theft, stating he had observed the situation before taking the box and spending some of the money on alcohol.
Potential Sentence and Prior Record
The man faces up to five years in prison for the theft. He has a prior record for shoplifting.