Man Suspected In Over A Dozen Church Burglaries

February 16, 2011

Multiple charges have been filed on a Pensacola man suspected of burglarizing over a dozen churches, daycare centers and businesses within the past few weeks — and authorities say he may be responsible for other burglaries in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties.

James William Cole Jr., 40, of 102 South L St. is charged with three counts of burglary, one count possession of burglary tools, two counts of grand theft, two counts of criminal mischief, one count of larceny, and one count of driving with a suspended/revoked license. He remains in the Escambia County Jail with bond set at $38,250.

Pensacola Police Capt. Paul Kelly said additional charges are pending as detectives continue investigating 13 burglaries that have occurred during the past 25 days within city limits. Kelly said Cole also is a suspect in numerous burglaries committed in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties.

Computer equipment, electronic items, food, and money were among the items taken in the burglaries; a dollar amount of the thefts is not available.

Cole had been under surveillance for a couple of days after being identified as a suspect, Kelly said.

He was taken into custody Monday night while members of the department’s Criminal Investigations Division were monitoring his activities. Around 10 p.m., officers followed him to Fairfield Presbyterian Church, 410 S. Fairfield Dr., and arrested him after he used a screwdriver to dismantle two large electrical boxes.

In addition to Monday night’s burglary, he also has been charged with burglarizing the daycare center at Gadsden Street United Methodist Church, 901 E. Gadsden St., on February 3 and the First Presbyterian Church Child Discovery Center, 33 E. Gregory St., on February 6.

A box of hamburger patties taken from the Gadsden Street United Methodist Church were found in the freezer at Cole’s residence, Kelly said.

Comments

4 Responses to “Man Suspected In Over A Dozen Church Burglaries”

  1. Horrific on February 17th, 2011 12:32 pm

    DRUGS? Thats what is happening

  2. WORRIED RESIDENT on February 17th, 2011 9:13 am

    Stealing from churches, GOD what is happening?

  3. Horrific on February 16th, 2011 10:19 am

    I do think that bond is really way too low. If he responsible for so much
    and they’re looking at more, sounds like he will probably just disappear.
    IS THAT WHAT THEY ARE HOPING FOR?

  4. Horrific on February 16th, 2011 9:09 am

    Sounds like maybe he could also have been responsible for the vandalism
    of some of the other same type buildings like the daycare out on Barancus.

    Of course this is just one of ummmmmmmmmmmm how many crooks
    and vandals we are having trouble with these days.

    That’s not to say we don’t appreciate this capture. Thanks to all the officers
    who did their jobs and caught this guy.

Written by William Reynolds · Filed Under News