Upper Darby Man Confesses to Multiple Copper Thefts

An Upper Darby man suspected of stealing six copper downspouts from Trinity Lutheran Church last week turned himself into authorities and confessed to that crime and several other area copper thefts, Haverford Township Police announced yesterday.

Steven Michael Molitor, 34, was charged with four counts each of institutional vandalism, theft by unlawful taking, and receiving stolen property.

According to Haverford Police, Trinity Lutheran’s surveillance system captured a white male removing the downspouts from the church the morning of October 10 and putting them in a silver Honda Accord. After Action News broadcast the video on October 11, police received two tips from viewers identifying the thief as Molitor.

Molitor subsequently came to the station and, in the course of an interview, confessed to the Trinity Lutheran copper theft, as well as previous thefts of St. George’s Church in Ardmore in mid-September and the Church of the Holy Apostle on October 1.

Molitor was arrested, charged, and arraigned on October 16 and his bail was set at $25,000. He faces preliminary hearing on October 25.