In these tough economic times, South Florida crooks are stooping to a new low.
In Pompano Beach, not only are they targeting churches, they're also going after the poor.
Yesterday, thieves Lynn Bracken and George Horn were busted for pilfering $350 from the poor box at St. Coleman's Church, according to police.
"We are used to living in a time where houses of worship were off limits to cirminals. Now it seems the boundaries are all gone," said Veda Coleman-Wright from the Broward Sherrif's Office Media Relations Department.
Bracken, of North Lauderdale, acted as a lookout for Horn while he removed the cash, and the whole thing was caught on tape.
Police said the heist happened on Jan. 21, when Bracken and Horn entered the church located off of Federal Highway, which was at the time open to the public. Bracken watched while Horn removed the money from three locked poor boxes.
Both Bracken and Horn were identified by the surveillance video taken inside the church. The Broward Sheriff’s Office arrested Bracken on Monday, but Horn is still on the loose.
"Whether you go into a synagogue, a church, a mosque, take from a poor box, I think that's getting pretty low," said Judge John Hurley, during Bracken's court appearance.
Police are asking anyone with information on the whereabouts of Horn to call the Broward Sheriff's Office Pompano Beach District at (954) 786-4201 or to remain anonymous call Crimestoppers at (954) 493-TIPS.
