Man charged with burglary of Lincoln Park church

Kerry+was+arrested+outside+St.+Vincent+de+Paul+Church+on+Sheffield+ave.+a+few+weeks+after+he+allegedly+robbed+the+church+of+thousands+of+dollars.+

Una Cleary

Kerry was arrested outside St. Vincent de Paul Church on Sheffield ave. a few weeks after he allegedly robbed the church of thousands of dollars.

After a devastating holiday for the parish, a man has been charged with burglarizing the St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church in Lincoln Park.

Hannibal Kerry, 27, was arrested in the 2200 block of North Sheffield Avenue on Jan.18, according to reporting by Fox 32 Chicago.

Kerry allegedly broke into the church on Dec. 26 around 8 p.m. At 8:16 p.m., a man was seen exiting the building, according to the church’s lead pastor, Father Joseph Williams.

The perpetrator gained access to the safe where the parish held the Christmas collection and took an estimated $10,000 in donations and money from the church sacristy used for candle funds.

The burglary undoubtedly made a mark on the church, prompting the parish to find a way to replace the lost funds.

The church established a GoFundMe fundraiser, which raised over $11,000 in less than two days and over $18,000 in total. Earlier this month, a church official told The Depaulia that the parish intends to use the extra funds for outreach programs, building maintenance, and new security measures.

There are significant damages to the church and repairs are underway.

After being arrested in connection with the holiday heist, Kerry is scheduled to appear in Cook County Bond Court on Jan. 26.