Man in custody for church burglaries

WEST HARTFORD, Conn. (WTNH) - One man is in custody who police say may be responsible for a recent string of church burglaries in West Hartford and surrounding towns.

The accused burglar allegedly put a fire extinguisher through the wall to get a into the church office. A panel was also ripped off a door in an attempt to gain entry. Similar instances have occurred in other West Hartford churches as well as surrounding towms.

"Churches are open, they want to be welcoming, you want to have strangers come in and that really puts the church at risk at some extent, and that makes churches an easy target," said Susan Wiley.

"You feel like you have been violated in your own home," said Wiley. "It's very, very disturbing and upseting, fortunately no one was hurt."

The incident is still under investigation, but police caught a man peeking into a house after a neighbor called 911. That man was arrested. His identity is being concealed at this time, but he is believed to be responsible for some of the church burglaries.

"We have had him in our prayers as well that he is going to see his way through this, and figure out whatever he needs to figure his life out."

A total of nine churches in West Hartford and surrounding towns have been burglarized.