Police from the 107th Precinct in Fresh Meadows are still looking for a burglary suspect who robbed a church on the Hillcrest campus of St. John’s University last month.
The unidentified man entered St. Thomas More Church through an unlocked door at around 8:30 a.m. on Dec. 11. Once inside, the perpetrator removed $300 in cash from one of the offices. The suspect ran off in an unknown direction and remains at large a month later, police said Wednesday.
“A review of CCTV footage indicates that an individual known to the NYPD and the St. John’s Department of Public Safety committed the office burglary,” University Spokesperson Brian Browne said. “The NYPD has issued an arrest warrant and is actively looking for the perpetrator, who removed approximately $300 in cash from an office desk.”
He added that the investigation commenced immediately.
“The safety and security of our campus community are essential, and our investments in public safety and our cooperative relationship with law enforcement help ensure that,” Browne said. “Churches are meant to be safe, welcoming places for all, and doors are often left open for worshipers. Unfortunately, that can also invite criminal activity, as in this isolated situation.”
The NYPD released surveillance images of the suspect riding on an MTA bus on Wednesday and described him as having a medium complexion. He was wearing black-rimmed eyeglasses, a dark vest over a blue hooded winter jacket, dark pants, and black sneakers.
Anyone with information regarding this burglary investigation is asked to call the NYPD’s Crime Stoppers Hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477) or for Spanish, 1-888-57-PISTA (74782). The public can also submit their tips by logging onto the Crime Stoppers website at crimestoppers.nypdonline.org or on X (the platform formerly known as Twitter) @NYPDTips. All calls and messages are confidential.
