Parishioner Helps Nab Church Burglary Suspect

An alert worshiper helped police catch a man suspected of prying open a Valley church safe while parishioners prayed in another room.

Sheriff’s deputies arrested 28-year-old Christopher C. VanGuilder late Sunday morning after a member of Redeemer Lutheran Church said he saw a man walk out of the church office with a lock box containing money.

Services at the church on South Schafer Road were just finishing up.

The suspect carried the box past Tom Polsin, who was headed to the office to get coffee for the parishioners.

“He said ‘Hi. How are you doing?”’ said Polsin, who became suspicious and decided to follow the stranger.

Burglars have targeted Redeemer Lutheran several times in the last few years. As recently as August, someone ransacked the church office and took $12,000 worth of computer equipment, sheriff’s deputies said.

Polsin got into his car and followed the man out of the church parking lot. The suspect apparently took a wrong turn, he said, heading down a one-way street. On his way back out, Polsin got the man’s license plate number.

Sheriff’s deputies arrested the suspect later that morning. They aren’t sure if Sunday’s burglary is linked to the church’s past burglaries, but members of the church say they’re suspicious.

“He came in just when everyone would be in the service,” Polsin said. “He seemed to know right where to go.”

Sheriff’s deputies arrested VanGuilder, who lives at 718 E. Decatur, for second degree burglary.

, DataTimes