Two security guards were charged with breaking into and stealing cash from Holy Name Cathedral on Chicago's Near North Side, police announced Monday.
Artemio Calderon, 25, and Jarrell Patterson, 22, were arrested Sunday after they were identified as the offenders wanted in a burglary that took place at the church on April 15, Chicago police said in a statement.
Calderon, of the 4700 block of South Damen Avenue, and Patterson, of the 600 block of East 87th Place, were each charged with one felony count of burglary of a place of worship, according to police.
Authorities said both men worked for an unidentified security company and entered the church, located in the 700 block of North Wabash Avenue, using a key. While inside, they took an unknown amount of cash from inside a safe, according to police.
A letter the Archdiocese of Chicago sent to parishioners after the burglary said in part, "at this time we do not know the extent of the loss, but we are conducting an audit of collections and will report on our findings."
A total of between $80,000 and $100,000 cash was stolen from Holy Name, according to Chicago police, who said a representative of the church observed two males entering unauthorized areas in the evening hours on multiple occasions in March and April.
Calderon and Patterson were identified through video surveillance and taken into custody without incident, according to police. They were scheduled to appear in bond court on Monday.
