Man Charged in LI Church Robbery
BY STEPHANIE BARISH wpix.com

4:47 p.m. EDT, October 18, 2009
ISLAND PARK, N.Y. (WPIX)—
A Long Island man has landed himself a spot behind bars for allegedly stealing religious artifacts and donations to the poor from a Roman Catholic church in Island Park, Nassau County police said.

Michael Czarnecki, 53, is accused of breaking a back window of the Sacred Heart church on Long Beach Road Friday night around 10:40 p.m.

He is accused of making off with items from the institution's "poor boxes." In addition, he allegedly stealing various artifacts worth an undetermined amount of money.

Czarnecki is being charged with burglary and criminal mischief. He was arraigned at First District Court in Hempstead on Sunday.