Caught on Cam: Man sought in break-in at church in Chestnut Hill

Law enforcement officials in Philadelphia have released surveillance footage in the hopes of identifying a man who, police claim, broke into and attempted to burglarize a church in the city’s Chestnut Hill neighborhood on Dec. 20, 2025.

Police shared video from the incident on social media on Tuesday morning.

According to police, the video was taken around 3:30 p.m. on Dec. 20, 2025, when a man broke into Our Mother of Consolation Church, located along the unit block of East Chestnut Hill Avenue.

A priest at the church told officers that he was in a bedroom on the second floor above the church when he heard a loud noise and went to investigate, officials said.

At that time, the priest, who officials didn’t name in a statement on this incident, told responding officers that he saw a man break into the church’s poor box before the individual noticed the priest and fled the scene, according to police.

The man didn’t escape with anything from the box and he was last seen running north on Germantown Avenue, officials said.

Police say the man sought in this incident was wearing a red hooded sweatshirt, blue jeans and white sneakers when the crime occurred.

Law enforcement officials are asking anyone who may have information on this case to contact the Philadelphia Police Department’s Northwest Detective Division at 215-686-3353/3354 or to contact the department’s tip line at 215-686-TIPS (8477).

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