Nigel Barnes, 24, was charged with burglary and theft in connection with the theft of a purse and an American Express card belonging to a pastor at Christ the King Church on Route 27, police said Thursday.
Nigel Barnes allegedly told people at area churches that he was homeless and seeking shelter before stealing from them, police say. (Photo courtesy South Brunswick Police Department) SOUTH BRUNSWICK - A Franklin Park man who presented himself as homeless to members of area churches has been arrested and charged with stealing a pastor's credit card during a church service, according to South Brunswick police.
Nigel Barnes, 24, was charged with burglary and theft in connection with the theft of a purse and an American Express card belonging to a pastor at Christ the King Church on Route 27, police said Thursday.
Barnes told people at that church and others in Middlesex County that he was homeless and seeking shelter, police said.
"He played on people's sympathies," said police Capt. James Ryan.
The South Brunswick theft took place during a 9:30 Sunday Mass on June 28.
The pastor didn't realize her purse had been stolen from her office until 6:30 p.m. when American Express called to say someone tried to use her credit card at a nearby Stop&Shop.
A few days later, a member of a Sandhill Road church - who had taken Barnes in after he claimed he was homeless - called police, Ryan said.
"The person reported that a man had come to the church looking for assistance. They took him into live with them, but then they grew suspicious of him," Ryan said.
Barnes, who also has an address in Brooklyn, was arrested on Friday, police said. He was charged with burglary for entering the church to commit a crime and theft for stealing the purse, according to police. He is being held at the Middlesex County jail on $25,000 bail.
Ryan said detectives have linked Barnes to similar crimes at churches in New Brunswick and Princeton.
It was not immediately clear if Barnes had been charged in those thefts.
Anyone with information about the crimes is asked to call Detective Tighelaar at (732) 329-4000 ext. 7486.
Anthony G. Attrino may be reached at tattrino@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @TonyAttrino. Find NJ.com on Facebook.