Police: Woman stole from Catholic school

WTXF - Philadelphia Police are seeking to apprehend a woman who they say burglarized a church on Academy Road, taking money earned from school book sales. Police say the woman got in through a lobby door that was left unlocked for the choir.

St. Martha's Parish Librarian Raenel Baker is heartsick that some would stoop so low as to steal $1,500 in book fair money from their school. Baker had left the money in a lockbox in the parish hall Tuesday night and when she came in the next morning, it was gone.

"She is the only person who went down that way and now the money is missing, unfortunately." She's a person of interest. We want to talk to her to find out what her reason was for being in the building,' said Northeast Detectives Lt. Dennis Rosenbaum.

Karen Donofry is the school principal. She says whoever did this is stealing from the children's education.

"It hurts. It really does because we really depend on that money to get the books, new books for the library and the kids love going to the library," she told FOX 29.

Maria Gilbert is the mother of a 7th grader and the school secretary. She says parents and students are devastated.

"We get no government funding as a Catholic School. Everything comes from fundraising. Takes a lot to put together a book fair, make very little money from it, and they stole it. It's horrible," she said.

The woman is described as a white female, approximately 25-30 years-of-age with long brown hair, and wearing glasses, blue coat, gray shirt, and black pants, and carrying a dark colored pocketbook.

Those with information are asked to contact Northeast Detective Division 215-686-3153/3154 DC 16-08-004296, dial 215.686.TIPS (8477) or 911.