Church burglars caught
Published 12:04 am Thursday, November 11, 2010
Two men who are believed to have stolen sacramental wine, cash and other valuables from Christ the King Catholic Church last week were arrested Wednesday.
Joshua Shane Richburg, 29, and Andrew Lee Mitchell, 22, are each charged with one count of third-degree burglary, third-degree theft of property and second-degree receiving stolen property, said Andalusia Police Department Lt. Barney Tyree said Wednesday.
Tyree said the APD received the report of a burglary at the church, which is located on Sanford Road, on Nov. 5. Taken were a guitar valued at $1,500, an undisclosed amount of cash and a “large quantity of sacramental wine,” he said.
“Based on some information we received from a good citizen, we were able to obtain and execute a search warrant at a residence on Stewart Street,” Tyree said.
When officers arrived, they found Richburg and Mitchell, as well as a generator that was recently stolen from the City of Andalusia and items taken from inside the Catholic Church, Tyree said.
The two men were taken into custody and placed in the Covington County Jail. Each is being held under a $450,000 bond. In addition to the burglary charges, Richburg was placed under a hold for failing to register as a convicted sex offender.
“I’m glad the community came together to help in this situation,” Tyree said. “It’s a sad day when a church is robbed.”