ILLINOIS THIEF ADMITS STEALING COMPUTERS FROM CHURCHES

Church thief faces 5 years, deportation (http://www.suntimes.com/lifestyles/religion/300859,CST-NWS-church17.article)
March 17, 2007
BY DAN ROZEK Staff Reporter

Alen Kalember burglarized at least seven Wheaton churches last year, even breaking into one during a wedding ceremony and stealing computer equipment, DuPage County prosecutors said. While the Carol Stream man typically targeted computers and electronic equipment during the string of burglaries, he allegedly once stole a donation box placed near the altar in one church.

The 20-year-old Kalember was sentenced Friday to five years in prison after pleading guilty earlier to one of the burglaries -- an Oct. 19 break-in at the Aldersgate Methodist Church in Wheaton.

"It's the kind of case that just rubs people the wrong way,'' said prosecutor Brian Perkins, who sought a 10-year sentence for Kalember, a Bosnian immigrant who faces deportation after he serves his prison term.

Says he was cocaine addict Kalember had asked that he receive drug treatment; he told Judge Perry Thompson that he was addicted to cocaine.

He was one of three men arrested last October following the break-in at the Aldersgate church, which occurred after a window there was shattered with a brick, authorities said.

Burglary charges are pending against the two other men, 25-year-old Nedim Sivcevic of Lombard and 17-year-old Mirnes Logo of Wheaton.

While Kalember pleaded guilty only to the Oct. 19 burglary at the Aldersgate church, prosecutors presented evidence linking him to break-ins at six other Wheaton churches dating back to July 3, 2006. He also was charged with a burglary at the College of DuPage.

'He will find forgiveness'In a Sept. 29 break-in, Kalember allegedly entered the Holy Cross Lutheran Church in Wheaton during a wedding ceremony and stole computer equipment from a children's playroom there, Perkins said. Kalember allegedly returned to the church a day latd again burglarized it.

The Rev. David Hanson, the pastor at Holy Cross church, said, "I know he will find forgiveness from God and I know he will find forgiveness from us.''

During an Oct. 7 burglary at Wheaton's St. Mark's Catholic Church, Kalember allegedly stole computer equipment, but also took a donation box containing cash from the church, Perkins said.

Perkins said there was no indication Kalember targeted churches because of any hatred or bias against religion.
drozek@suntimes.com