Man caught on video stealing from church
David Bennett, 55, is suspected in a string of similar thefts across southeastern Pennsylvania, authorities say
A Norristown man has been charged with stealing money from a donation box inside a Hilltown church.
A 55-year-old Norristown man is facing charges for allegedly stealing money from a donation box inside a Hilltown church, according to authorities, who said that the man is suspected of similar thefts from other churches in southeastern Pennsylvania.
David Bennett — also known as David Branca, according to police — of the 1800 block of North Hills Drive has been charged with multiple counts of theft and related offenses, court documents show.
Hilltown police said that in February, they received a report from staff at the Our Lady of Sacred Heart Catholic Church Chapel on Broad Street that the amount of money collected from a locked donation box had declined substantially.
During the ensuing investigation, surveillance video at the church captured a middle-aged, balding man later identified as Bennett opening the donation box with an unknown type of master key, police said. Bennett took cash from the donation box on multiple occasions, according to police.
Authorities said that Bennett had no affiliation with that church.
According to Hilltown police, Bennett is facing additional charges from other unspecified jurisdictions for similar thefts from churches, and he’s suspected of committing numerous other thefts from churches and other houses of worship in the region. Details of those incidents and investigations were not immediately available.
Authorities ask anyone with information about the theft of cash from churches in southeastern Pennsylvania to contact either their local police department or Hilltown police at 215-4536000. A preliminary hearing in the case is pending.