Pair charged in burglary spree that hit Slate Belt churches, home and 13 cars
Updated Jul 11, 2019 ; Posted Jul 8, 2019
Courtesy photos | For lehighvalleylive.com
Luis Sepulveda, left, and Reynaldo Sepulveda, right, are accused of breaking into two Slate Belt churches, a home and 13 vehicles.
By Sarah Cassi | For lehighvalleylive.com
Two men are charged following a burglary spree that hit two Slate Belt churches, a home and 13 vehicles, and they may be connected to other crimes in Berks County, according to police.
Police previously said three men were suspects in burglaries at St. Elizabeth of Hungary Church in Pen Argyl and the United Methodist Church in Wind Gap; a residential burglary in Pen Aryl; and numerous thefts from vehicles in Pen Argyl.
Luis and Reynaldo Sepulveda were arraigned in their cases Monday afternoon.
These men may have burglarized 2 Slate Belt churches. And that's not all they're suspected of doing.
Reynaldo Sepulveda, Marcelino Sepulveda and Luis Alberto Sepulveda were arrested Tuesday, July 2, police said.
Luis Sepulveda, 19, of Northampton borough, and Reynaldo Sepulveda, who turned 21 on Saturday, of Allentown, each face three counts of burglary, 13 counts of theft from a vehicle, and single counts of institutional vandalism in a place of worship, stemming from the break-ins.
Reynaldo Sepulveda was also charged with receiving stolen property and possession of an instrument of a crime.
District Judge Alicia Zito said the men pose a serious risk to the community should they be released, and set bail at $200,000 straight each.
Police said they were first called at about 4 a.m. July 1 to a home on East Plainfield Avenue in Pen Argyl. A homeowner awoke to a male burglar inside the home and yelled, and the burglar took off.
Stolen items were found behind a stone wall in the backyard, but police said personal checks, a camera bag and a flashlight were never found.
Police then responded to St. Elizabeth of Hungary Catholic Church for a reported burglary. Thieves broke a stained glass window to get inside the church, and then used a fence post driver to break into locked rooms in the church, according to investigators.
Two people were recorded on surveillance video damaging multiple doors and the window; police said they caused more than $5,000 worth of damage.
The pair stole money from the church, police said.
Police said the pair also broke into First United Methodist Church, 19 W. West Street in Wind Gap. They allegedly caused "extensive" damage, and stole money as well.
Police said the vehicle thefts and attempted thefts were reported on Applegate Avenue, North Lobb Avenue, North Robinson Avenue and East Plainfield Avenue in Pen Argyl.
The pair have been held in Northampton County Prison in lieu of bail, after police found Luis Sepulveda, 24-year-old Marcelino Sepulveda, of Allentown, and a third person in a car in the early morning of July 2 at West Applegate and North Heller avenues in Pen Argyl.
Police said they found a stolen and loaded 9 mm handgun in the car that was reported stolen from Hellertown. Luis Sepulveda was wearing similar clothing to one of the men in the surveillance footage from St. Elizabeth's church.
Marcelino and Luis Sepulveda were each charged with receiving stolen property and conspiracy related to the gun, and Luis Sepulveda was charged with prohibited possession of a firearm. The pair were sent county prison in lieu of $75,000 bail each.
Luis Sepulveda also had a bench warrant in a harassment case, and his bail was sent at $5,000 unsecured in that case, records show.
Police said Marcelino Sepulveda will not face additional charges connected to the break-ins.
Reynaldo Sepulveda was found on foot in Pen Argyl, police said. He was wearing "distinctive" Adidas sneakers that were seen on the second man in the surveillance footage, according to police.
Reynaldo Sepulveda was charged with possession of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia after being searched, and has been held in lieu of $15,000 bail.
The Slate Belt Regional Police Department is investigating a burglary of the St. Elizabeth of Hungary Church, 300 W. Babbit Ave., Pen Argyl Borough. The two pictured males broke in to the church at approximately 2:10 am on July 1, 2019
Sarah Cassi may be reached at scassi@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow her on Twitter @SarahCassi. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook.