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Portmore man nabbed inside church, charged with sacrilege - Police

Published:Sunday | September 28, 2025 | 4:02 PM
The incident happened on September 13, 2025, at a church on Cecile Avenue, Edgewater in Portmorem St Catherine.
The incident happened on September 13, 2025, at a church on Cecile Avenue, Edgewater in Portmorem St Catherine.

A 39-year-old man is facing a charge of sacrilege after he was allegedly caught inside a church moments after breaking in and stealing items valued at over $175,000.

Detectives assigned to the St Catherine South Police Division have charged 39-year-old Robert Barnett, otherwise called 'Mogo', of North Edgewater Avenue, Portmore.

The incident happened about 11:30 p.m. on September 13, at a church on Cecile Avenue, Edgewater, a police statement said.

Police alleged that Barnett forced open a sliding window, entered the sanctuary, and removed a bag containing $3,000 and a Samsung keyboard valued at $175,000.

However, a security system was triggered, and guards from a private security company responding to the alert found him inside the building.

He was subsequently handed over to the Portmore police.

Barnett was charged on Saturday.

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