Woman Charged With Stealing Cash From LI Church Collection Boxes

SAYVILLE, N.Y. (CBSNewYork) -- A Long Island woman has been charged with stealing from collection boxes at a Sayville church.

Chris Koch, the business manager at St. Lawrence the Martyr Roman Catholic Church, told WCBS 880's Sophia Hall he noticed something wasn't right about the money in the collection boxes over a three-week period.

"The amount of collection in the poor boxes had dramatically been reduced," Koch said.

Listen to Woman Charged With Stealing Cash From LI Church Collection Boxes

Cameras were then set up, which caught Jennie Lecker, 36, of Bohemia, stealing cash from the locked boxes, police said. Somehow, she managed to get the keys, Koch said.

"It was after services -- sometimes later in the evening, sometimes while people were actually in the building," Koch said.

Koch said he believes Lecker stole up to $3,000.

She was not a parishioner or employed with the parish.

"That's what makes this crime so sad. She was stealing money from the poor boxes," Koch said. "That's intended to help people who don't have food or a place to live."

Lecker was arrested after entering the church while police were investigating the thefts. She is charged with four counts of third-degree burglary and attempted petit larceny.

Lecker is scheduled to be arraigned at First District Court in Central Islip on Tuesday.