Detective Michael Malfetti reviewed surveillance footage, alerted area police departments and identified 32-year-old Cory Finch of Oak Ridge as the thief, Police Chief Timothy Storbeck said Friday.
The $50 was taken from a St. Joseph’s Church donation box that the thief forced open on May 9, Storbeck said.
It took less than a week to identify Finch, a known heroin user who was taken into custody on Thursday.
Police in other jurisdictions are eyeing Finch for burglaries in their towns, the chief said.
He already has a lengthy history of burglary and theft – including stealing $800 and an iPod from an automated laundry in Newtown, records show.
Finch was released pending a hearing.
Assisting their West Milford colleagues in the case were police from Cedar Grove, Fairfield, Jefferson and North Caldwell, Storbeck said
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