SHIRLEY, N.Y. (WCBS 880) — A Long Island man was arrested Wednesday and charged with the burglaries of three churches in Suffolk County.
Fresh out of rehab, Suffolk County Police say William Stepnowski, 40, was caught with heroin and identified as the person who broke into three churches multiple times.
“The church that was burglarized three times, had close-circuit television, which gave us a lead to work on the case. The person was breaking into the offices of the church and stealing a variety of things, including cash, food and some equipment,” said Police Chief Stewart Cameron.
Two churches in Shirley were targeted multiple times, police said. St. John the Theologian Orthodox Church was hit three times and Assembly of God was hit twice. Meanwhile, Christ Episcopal Church, in Bellport, was burglarized once.
“The churches are generally opening, welcoming places and unfortunately, on occasion, some people take advantage of that good will and Mr. Stepnowski did that,” Cameron said.
The 40-year-old suspect, who lives in Shirley, has a prior record which includes breaking into a church.
He is charged with six counts of third-degree burglary and one count of seventh-degree of criminal possession of a controlled substance.