Stephen Lavenda was arrested by Long Beach detectives on Aug. 3 for allegedly stealing $100 from St. Ignatius.
Long Beach Police Department
Anthony Rifilato
Long Beach police nabbed a man who allegedly stole $100 from a church poor box in May and ran from a monsignor who attempted to pursue him.
Following an investigation, Long Beach Detective Sgt. Karl Hayes arrested Stephen Lavenda on Aug. 3 at the intersection of Riverside Boulevard and East Park Avenue and charged him with petit larceny at police headquarters. According to police, Lavenda was observed by a monsignor at St. Ignatius Martyr Roman Catholic Church on May 29 tampering with the poor boxes in the rear of the church. When the monsignor called out to Lavenda, police said he fled and made off with $100. Lavenda was arraigned in Long Beach City Court on August 4 by the Honorable Judge Roy Tepper.
