Thread: CA-One arrested,one sought,San Ramon Valley church burglarie

One arrested, one sought in San Ramon Valley church burglaries
By Robert Salonga

Posted: 10/27/2009 07:13:53 AM PDT
Updated: 10/27/2009 12:12:10 PM PDT


DANVILLE — One man has been arrested and police are searching for another in connection with church burglaries in Danville and San Ramon, police said.

Cash was stolen during the burglaries at St. Isidore's Church in Danville and St. Joan of Arc Church in San Ramon, according to a news release from the Contra Costa County Sheriff's Office, which contracts police services for the town of Danville.

The burglaries were discovered after the arrest of 36-year-old transient Victor Ramirez-Benitez, who was spotted by police about 2:30 a.m. Monday walking with another man on El Cerro Boulevard at La Gonda Way. When Danville patrol Officer Brian Sliger made a U-turn to get a closer look at the two backpack-carrying men, they ran toward the freeway.

Police searched the area and found two abandoned backpacks containing burglary tools, and one of them contained cash-filled envelopes belonging to St. Isidore's Church. Authorities said they found Ramirez-Benitez hiding in some bushes along the southbound Interstate 680 offramp.

San Ramon officers and a police dog and the California Highway Patrol helped search for a second suspect, but they did not find anyone.

After the arrest of Ramirez-Benitez, police went to St. Isidore's Church in the 400 block of La Gonda Way and found that someone had pried a side window, and at one point tried to break open the church's tabernacle. Two other rooms in the back of the church had been ransacked, police said.

Ultimately, there was no serious loss, said Kathy Dake, office manager for the church.

"There was very little money taken," Dake said. "They just went through some drawers."

Police said the church was last burglarized about three years ago, when the tabernacle was stolen.

About 4:30 a.m. Monday, San Ramon police got a report of a burglary at St. Joan of Arc Church in the 2600 block of San Ramon Valley Boulevard. In that case, someone had also forced their way in through a side window, then cut into a safe and took cash.

Police said physical evidence suggests that both burglaries were committed by the same people. Investigators are checking with other police agencies about whether they have experienced similar burglaries.

Ramirez-Benitez was booked into the County Jail in Martinez on suspicion of burglary, possession of burglary tools, and vandalism. He has also been placed on an immigration hold.

An investigation into the burglaries continues, and anyone with information may contact Danville police Detective Bryant Williams at 925-314-3711.


http://www.contracostatimes.com/ci_1365 ... st_emailed

Anyone want to bet the church drops the charges?