METHUEN, Mass. (AP) — Police say a man who stole from a Methuen mosque was himself robbed by two men who spotted him trying to fish money out of a stolen metal donation box using a coat hanger.
Chief Joseph Solomon says 38-year-old William Ortiz broke into the Selimiye Mosque last week and stole the donation box, two computers and other items.
Solomon says two men later saw Ortiz trying to get the money out of the donation box and robbed him.
Officers responding to Ortiz’s home Friday linked the robbery to the mosque burglary. They recovered the stolen property and arrested Ortiz. Two men who allegedly robbed Ortiz were also arrested.
Solomon says Ortiz appears to have been looking for money to buy drugs. It couldn’t be determined if he has an attorney.
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