Mother and son arrested for Tucson church thefts

During the month of March, officers from the Tucson Police Department responded to several reported burglaries or larcenies at different area churches. On March 24, 2015, staff with Diocese of Tucson provided video footage of the to the local media.

The video depicting a male and female possibly involved in one of the incidents was played during several newscasts and was available online.

On March 25, 2015, just before 10:00 a.m., officers responded to the 1800 block of N. Camino Pio Decimo to a report of the male and female from the newscast possibly being inside the church.

Multiple officers arrived on scene within minutes but learned the male and female had left. Thirty minutes later, the officers received a second report of the male and female behind a church in the 1300 block of S. Camino Seco. The officers arrived on scene and detained the female without incident. She was identified as 55-year-old Bridget E. Baker. The male fled the area but was located a short distance away and apprehended. He was identified as Baker’s son, 29-year-old Andrew W. Hoke. Both are not Tucson area residents.

Detectives were able to determine both Baker and Hoke removed property from one of the churches on March 25. The detectives were also able to link Baker and Hoke to incidents occurring on March 16, 2015 in the 1800 block of S. Kolb Rd. and on March 21, 2015 in the 300 block of S. Tucson Blvd.

Hoke and Baker were each booked into the Pima County Jail on one count of Trafficking in Stolen Property and three counts of 3rd Degree Burglary.

burglariesDiocese of TucsonlarceniesMother and son arrestedTucson church theftsTucson Police Department