Police: Man stole from Rensselaer church

Police have arrested a man in connection with thefts from a church.

John W. G. Whiteford, 41, is accused of breaking into St. John the Evangelist and St. Joseph’s Church on Herrick Street between 2:30 p.m. on June 25 and 8:45 a.m. on June 26.

Police said while inside, Whiteford attempted to gain entry into a safe but was not successful. He allegedly cut open a wooden donation box for the poor and took an unknown amount of money. He also cut open and took cash from a wooden prayer candle box, according to a news release.

Whiteford was charged with felony counts of burglary and criminal mischief and a misdemeanor of larceny. He was arraigned in Rensselaer City Court and sent to the Albany County Correctional Facility.

The Bethlehem Police Department, Capital Region Crime Analysis Center and New York State Parole assisted in the investigation.