A 19-year-old student is in the custody of the Teshie District police in Accra for allegedly stealing from churches in the vicinity.

The suspect, Isaac Oppong Asante, is said to have stolen ladies' bags, laptops and other valuables from congregants of the Light House Chapel International, International Central Gospel Church (ICGC) (Hosanna Temple) and the Perez Chapel.

Confirming the incident in an interaction Monday, DSP SK Agbodeka, Teshie Dis­trict Commander, said the suspect is a resident of Santa Maria, a suburb of Accra, but on August 17, 2014, he (the suspect) came to Teshie Lascala, entered the Light House Chapel and while the congregation was busily praying, Isaac stole a black lady's bag containing 1 Samsung T-Mobile phone and a charger, a Holy Bible, lip gloss, lip aids and a comb.

DSP Agbodeka stated that as if that was not enough, the suspect quickly picked a taxi and went to Teshie ICGC, entered their multimedia room, stole a Dell laptop computer and went further to the Global Evangelical Church to engage in a similar act where he was being closely monitored and so left for the Perez Chapel.

At the Perez Chapel, the Teshie District Police Commander said, because the church had closed, one of the members of the Global Evangelical Church quickly prompted one of the pastors of the Perez Chapel to be watchful of Isaac, whom they highly sus­pected to be a criminal.

DSP Agbodeka intimated that the Prez pastor closely monitored the suspect and gave him a place to sit in front of the church, indicating that shortly after, Isaac sneaked out of the church with the ladies' bag and another bag containing a Dell laptop computer.

He said the suspect was then arrested and the first victim from ICGC, Hosana Temple, was called to come and identify the laptop in Isaac's possession.

DSP Agbodeka further stated that the first victim, assisted by others, arrested the suspect and sent him to the police station.

He added that shortly after, a second person from ICGC also came to identify her ladies' bag and its con­tent.

DSP Agbodeka said Isaac, in his caution statement, admitted the offence.