Batavia church thief caught red-handed

BATAVIA, N.Y. (WIVB) - Batavia Police say they caught a church thief red-handed.

Authorities say they stopped 22-year-old John Cabrerra, of the City of Batavia, as he was attempting to break into the St. Paul Lutheran Church.

Batavia Police responded to four burglaries Saturday night--two of them were churches.

With these break ins, and others earlier in July , Batavia Police spokesman Eric Hill says the robberies are taking a toll on those affected.

"It's been difficult for a lot of the parishioners," Hill said. "They were very distraught at the fact that they're coming in for their church service and finding their church has been ransacked."

Police are now trying to use DNA evidence found at all the scenes to see the recent church robberies are connected.