Police solve church thefts case

STAFFORD — A 24-year-old man has been arrested for thefts that occurred recently at three Stafford County churches.
Bryan Christopher Stevens, of no fixed address, was charged with three counts of breaking and entering, three counts of grand larceny, obstruction of justice, unlawful entry and theft of services, the Stafford County Sheriff’s Office said Friday.
The thefts occurred starting in January of this year.
Stafford sheriff’s office Detective Tim Martin, using local tips and investigative leads, determined that Stevens to be a suspect in the case.
On Wednesday, Martin went to Harris Lane in Stafford County where Stevens was staying in a shed at a vacant residence, according to Bill Kennedy, public information officer for the sheriff’s office.
Backup detectives arrived at the location and Stevens ran from the area when questioned.
Evidence in the area linked Stevens to the thefts from the three churches — Ebenezer United Methodist Church, Ramoth Baptist Church and North Stafford Church of Christ — police said.
On Tuesday, gift cards were stolen from Ebenezer United Methodist Church on Embrey Mill Road in North Stafford between 2 and 7:30 a.m. Someone gained entry by breaking a window and an interior door, police said.
Also, between Jan. 1 and 3, a flat-screen TV, computer monitor and undisclosed amount of cash were stolen from North Stafford Church of Christ at 500 Shelton Shop Road in Stafford. Police said the person got into the church through an unlocked door.
And at Ramoth Baptist Church at 478 Ramoth Church Road in Stafford, an intruder struck between Jan. 3 and early Jan. 4, according to Kennedy, who said that the person forced open a window and took four computers, a camera and four flat-screen TVs.

On Thursday, Stafford detectives and Prince William County Police executed a search warrant at a residence in Dumfries where stolen items were expected to be located, according to Martin’s investigation.
The items were recovered there, police said, along with other items linked to thefts in Stafford.
“Thanks to the tips from concerned citizens and the dedicated work of the detectives involved in this case, the individual involved in these crimes has been arrested,” said Stafford Sheriff Charles Jett in a released statement. “I appreciate the assistance from the media in helping us get the word out about these crimes. It made a difference.”
Tracy Bell is managing editor of the Stafford County Sun. Reach her at tbell@insidenova.com.