A worked held an alleged church thief at gunpoint early Monday morning until Tampa police could arrive and make the arrest.
Tampa police said a maintenance worker with a local church stumbled upon a crime in action just after midnight, and scared off the would-be burglar. The report says the suspect had taken the doors of the church right off the walls and stacked them up, likely planning to steal them.
The suspect ran off when the worker confronted him the first time -- but came back a couple hours later. This time, the maintenance worker was prepared. He held the suspect at gunpoint until police arrived to make the arrest.
Officers booked 23-year-old John Novoblyski on $2,000 bond for felony criminal mischief.
A police report said there's an estimated $4,000 in damage to the church doors.
Apparently, the maintenance man was at the church overnight because of a heightened frequency of burglaries.
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