One arrested in church thefts

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A Freeport man was arrested in connection with burglaries at churches in Nassau County in January and September, Nassau County police said.

According to Nassau police, Freeport police officers were on patrol Wednesday when they spotted David Spencer, 37, on Commercial Street and arrested him.

According to detectives from the Nassau Police First Squad, thefts were committed:

• On Jan. 1 at 8 p.m. at Memorial Presbyterian Church, 189 Babylon Tpke., Roosevelt;

• On Jan. 2 at 5:13 a.m. at Perfecting Faith Church, 311 N. Main St., Freeport;

• On Sept. 23 at 10 p.m. at Bethlehem Lutheran Church, 1375 Grand Ave., Baldwin.

Police said that Spencer, of 28 High Pl., broke a window to enter the buildings and took a number of items, including Yamaha keyboards, cash, a mountain bike, jewelry and ceremonial chalices.

Spencer was also wanted on burglary charges stemming from an incident in Great Neck on Nov. 1, 2014, police said.

Spencer was charged with 18 counts of third-degree burglary, petty larceny, fifth-degree criminal possession of stolen property and fourth-degree criminal mischief.

He was ordered held in First District Court, Hempstead on $500,000 bond or $250,000 cash.