Church Burglar Arrested on Three Count Warrant
by
Dave Lambert
on Tue 11 Dec 2007 02:00 PM EST
From the Troy Police Department...
Hilary Anne Harbuz, 41 years old from Warren, was arrested Friday by Troy investigators on a felony warrant charging her with three breaking and entering incidents at St. Joseph Chaldean Church located at 2442 E. Big Beaver in Troy. A church representative/complainant reported noticing the offering envelopes came up short on the weekend of 10/20/07 when compared to the normal average and initiated an investigation. An on-site video system captured the suspect inside the church with a flashlight on three separate occasions. On 10/29/07 at approximately 0434 hrs. the suspect is seen near the prayer candles where she appears to reach into the offering box. She then proceeds to an office used to count cash offerings and envelopes and searches through drawers and cabinets located therein. On 11/5/07 at approximately 0426 hrs. she is again observed inside the church near the prayer candle area. Again, it appears she reaches into the offering box. She walks away from that area holding something in her hand and appears to put something in one of her coat pockets. She then walks up to the “Poor Box” and walks away. Apparently that box was locked. On 11/19/07 at 0430 hrs. she is again seen inside the church in front of the prayer candle area. She has a flashlight in one hand and some sort of shiny object in the other. On all three dates, she is wearing the same coat. Two different sets of exterior doors to the church were found with pry marks and appear to have been forced open to gain entry. The complainant recognized the suspect as a volunteer cleaning person. She is not a member of the church, but was introduced by regular paid cleaning staff as someone that likes to help churches with cleaning and maintenance. She was not issued a key to the church. She did not respond to a Troy investigator’s effort to interview her. The case was presented to the Oakland County Prosecutor’s Office and a three count breaking and entry warrant was authorized. Troy investigators proceeded to the suspect’s residence in Warren and arrested her without incident on 12/7/07. She was arraigned on 12/8/07 before Magistrate Clement Waldman in Oakland County Circuit Court where she stood mute, requested a court appointed attorney, and was given personal bond. Her exam is scheduled before Judge Dennis Drury in Troy’s 52-4 District Court on 12/20/07 at 0830 hrs. During the investigation, detectives received information indicating that the suspect may have been acting as a “volunteer cleaning person” at other area churches in addition to St. Joseph’s, however were not able to identify specific locations. Churches that might recognize the suspect and have experienced similar incidents may contact Troy Detective David Nordstrom for assistance at 248-524-3477. 07-41465
