ALMIGHTY IDIOT
Susp’s hatred of religion stirs church robs: cops
HE DOESN’T have a prayer.
A Queens burglary suspect, motivated by his hatred of the Almighty, robbed four houses of worship in three weeks — including one that was hit three separate times, officials said Wednesday.
“I’m mad at God,” Joseph Woznik, 23, told investigators, according to cops. “I don’t like church no more. I don’t want to deal with religion. I’m sick and tired of hearing about religion.
“I don’t break into houses, only churches. I break in to get back at God.”
The homeless man was arrested Tuesday on hate crime charges for the multi-faith crime spree, officials said.
Woznik’s one-man religious rampage struck an Episcopal church, a Romanian Orthodox church, a Hindu temple and a Roman Catholic church, officials said.
Woznik faces up to 15 years in prison if convicted. Cops said the suspect, who was caught on two video cameras during the burglaries, confessed to the crimes.
The Rev. Paul Lai of the St. James Episcopal Church on Broadway near Corona Ave. in Flushing, Queens, said his parish was struck on March 23, April 2 and again on Monday.
“He needs help,” Lai said of the suspect. “It’s hard to say why he has such hatred against God . ... We don’t have anything here now.”
Woznik (photo) made off with $1,800 the first time, a Canon digital camera the second time, and three checks swiped from the church’s checkbook on his third heist, Lai said.
The cash was meant for church ministries, including programs for senior citizens.
The first burglary was on March 20 at the Bangladesh Hindu Mandir Temple on 44th Ave. near 94th St. in Elmhurst, with Woznik cleaning out three donation boxes, according to Queens District Attorney Richard Brown.
He also targeted the Blessed Virgin Mary Help of Christians Church on Monday, using a hammer to pry his way inside a donation box — and swiping $20 from beneath a statue of the Virgin Mary, Brown said.
He was finally captured on Tuesday, a day after his theft of a goldplated communion tray at the St. Mary Romanian Orthodox Church on 74th St. near Woodside Ave. in Elmhurst, police said. Members of the NYPD’s Grand Larceny Division made the collar.
Woznik was charged with burglary as a hate crime, grand larceny as a hate crime, possession of stolen property, criminal mischief and other counts.
At his arraignment in Queens Criminal Court Wednesday night, Woznik was held on $200,000 bail, placed on suicide watch and remanded to face similar charges in Florida.