Man Broke Into 2 Nassau Churches, Robbed One: Police

HICKSVILLE, NY — A Suffolk County man was arrested Monday for breaking into two Hicksville churches in December, Nassau County police said.

According to police, at 11:30 p.m. on Dec. 28, a man was seen getting out of a car in the parking lot of St. Ignatius Loyole Roman Catholic Church, located at 129 Broadway in Hicksville. The man pried open the locked door of the building and entered the church, police said. Once he was inside, he tried to use a pry bar and screwdriver on a set of interior doors, but couldn't get into the main building, police said. He then fled.

Police say the break-in caused $30,000 in damages to the church.

After an investigation, police arrested Luke Wigutow, 27, of Patchogue, for the break-in.

During the investigation, police say they found that Wigutow was responsible for a break-in at another church. Police say he stole two cash boxes from the Holy Family Parish Center, at 17 Fordham Ave. in Hicksville, on Dec. 29 — just minutes after he failed to rob Saint Ignatius Loyole.

Wigutow is charged with third-degree burglary, third-degree attempted burglary, second-degree criminal mischief, third-degree criminal mischief and petty larceny. He is scheduled to be arraigned later today in First District Court in Hempstead.