Lemont man caught on camera stealing from Ss. Cyril and Methodius Parish

LEMONT – A Lemont man accused of stealing items from the donation box of a local Catholic church and then escaping while under police custody was picked up on a warrant and appeared in bond court July 7, according to Cook County court records.

Joseph Bailey, 33, of the 900 block of State Street in Lemont is charged with burglary after he was seen on a security camera taking items from the donation box at Ss. Cyril and Methodius Parish in Lemont, according to court documents.

The security cameras were installed after an allegedly robbery earlier in June.

Between June 12 and 13, two relics, Pope John Paul II's blood and Saint Faustina Kowalska's bone, were reportedly stolen from the church, according to Lemont Police Department Detective Aras Jonikas.

On June 21, another incident was caught on camera when Bailey stole "items from the donation box," Jonikas said.

Although Bailey was later apprehended, he escaped from police custody June 26. A warrant for his arrest was issued by Cook County Judge Peter Felice on July 2, according to court documents.

The warrant was executed July 5 and Cook County Judge Donald Bourgeois has issued a $60,000 bail bond. His next court date will be 9:30 a.m. July 27 in Bridgeview, according to Cook County's State's Attorney's Office.

Currently, Bailey is not being charged with the alleged theft of the two relics, and authorities are treating the cases as separate incidents, according to Jonikas.

"At this point we're considering the cases separately and we continue to look for suspects and the relics,” Jonikas said.