SMILE: You're on Close circuit

"Since I took over as pastor in September, it's been obvious to me that money has been taken from that box on a regular basis," Father Close told The Evangelist, "I bought a surveillance camera and hadn't yet installed it on a permanent mounting. We were checking it out to see if it worked, and we just got lucky!"

On Nov. 20, Father Close and the parish secretary were testing the camera when they observed two men acting suspiciously. They came into view of the camera, went up to the moneybox, pried the lock and stole the money. They then got into a white van and headed down Rt. 20 towards New Lebanon.

Police action

Shawn J. Kirchner and Dwayne L. Daniels, both of Pittsfield, Mass., were charged with petit larceny and conspiracy in the 6th degree. Additionally, Mr. Kirchner was charged with criminal mischief in the 4th degree. According to State Trooper Phillip Brown of the New Lebanon State Police substation, Mr. Kirchner was observed removing the money from the box. Both suspects have been released on their own recognizance and are ordered to appear in court on Dec. 14.

"We have been investigating these thefts for over six years," said Trooper Brown, a parishioner of Immaculate Conception, "so, personally, this gives me a lot of satisfaction."

Small thefts

"But Father [Joseph] Halloran [the former pastor] made them work it off, rather than prosecute them," he said. "That was juvenile mischief. This, however, is an entirely different matter."

Trooper Brown said that in recent years the substation has been aware that some type of organized group had been routinely taking money. The police had been watching the area but were unable to catch anyone in the act.

"Father Close had a good idea when he installed that camera," he said, adding that it was just what was needed to catch the thieves.

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