The defendant allegedly stole $1,800 worth of electronics from Grace Moravian Church in Queens earlier this month. Credit: Google Maps
A 34-year-old Brooklyn man has been charged with breaking into four churches in Queens and attempting to break into a fifth during a one-week period earlier this month, District Attorney Richard Brown said.
“The defendant is accused of being a one-man crime wave and brazenly breaking into churches throughout Queens and helping himself to whatever he could find of value,” Brown said.
David Spencer allegedly broke into four churches between July 10 and July 17 and stole more than $7,000 worth of items. He also allegedly tried to break into a fifth church, damaging several doors.
The details of the criminal complaints are as follows:
- Spencer allegedly broke into United Apostolic Lighthouse Church at 138-15 Springfield Blvd. just after midnight on July 10 and stole a $3,000 keyboard.
- Sometime between the night of July 12 and the afternoon of July 13, Spencer allegedly broke into Harvest Revival Baptist Church 119-33 Springfield Blvd. and stole a $1,500 keyboard.
- Sometime between the night of July 16 and the morning of July 17, Spencer allegedly tried to enter Redemption Holy Tabernacle Church at 118-21 Van Wyck Expressway and damaged the front and side doors.
- Sometime between the night of July 16 and the morning of July 17, Spencer allegedly broke into Rohoboth House of Praise at 142-11 Farmers Blvd. and removed a flat-screen TV from the wall and stole a keyboard, both valued at $2,600.
- Sometime between the night of July 16 and the morning of July 17, Spencer allegedly broke into Grace Moravian Church at 178-36 137th Ave. and stole a laptop, a keyboard, a movie projector and a sound-system amplifier, all valued at $1,800.
Spencer has been charged with third-degree burglary, third-degree attempted burglary, third- and fourth degree criminal mischief, and third- and fourth degree grand larceny. He faces up to seven years in prison if convicted. He was ordered held on a total of $40,000 bail and to return to court Aug. 2.
