HOUSTON – A man was arrested Monday after Houston police said he broke into a Baptist Church in northwest Houston.
The crime happened shortly after midnight at the Iglesia Bautista Del Redentor church, 4220 Lang Road at Lodge Street.
Investigators said the suspect broke a chain on a fence to get into the property and then tried to use a crowbar to break inside the church. An alarm was tripped, which scared the suspect away.
As the man was running away from the scene, police said he ran into officers who had already set up a perimeter.
Officials said musical equipment that had been stolen was recovered.
Rodrigo Vega, 22, has been charged with burglary of a building. His criminal history includes convictions on charges of burglary of a building, possession of marijuana, criminal mischief, possession of a prohibited weapon, trespassing, possession of a controlled substance and burglary of a vehicle.
The church's pastor said the church was also burglarized in November, but the thief escaped. He's planning on buying a larger fence to install around the property.