Thief Breaks In, Robs Donation Box at Salem Church

Salem police are searching for the thief who broke into a Salem church Saturday night and robbed a donation box.

At 4:09 p.m. Sunday, police responded to a reported break-in at the Wesley United Methodist Church at the intersection of North and Lynde streets.

Pastor Ventura Loredo told responding officers that someone entered the church through a door on the Lynde Street side of the building overnight and smashed a window to gain access to the pastor's office, according to this morning's police log.

A wooden charity box shaped like a church was broken into and about $200 in cash was stolen, Ventura said.

Officers reportedly took photographs of the scene and were able to recover a blood-stained piece of glass as evidence.

Salem Patch will post additional information as it becomes available.