A man allegedly walked out of Bellevue United Presbyterian Church on Sunday morning with cash lifted from the church’s donation collection, then disappeared on foot into the surrounding neighborhood. The theft, reported at the historic Lincoln Avenue sanctuary in Bellevue, Pennsylvania, has left Bellevue Borough Police searching for a suspect described only by his clothing, his approximate age, and a distinctive tattoo.
According to WTAE, officials said the man took money from the church’s donations after a caller reported the theft. The Bellevue Borough Police Department logged the case under Reference ID 2026-04028, placing the reported incident at approximately 11:30 a.m. on Sunday at 457 Lincoln Avenue, according to the department’s Bellevue Borough Police Department case listing — a timeframe that falls squarely within the church’s typical Sunday morning worship hours.
Investigators describe the suspect as a white male in his 30s or 40s who wore black clothing and was last seen leaving the area on foot. Police say he can be identified by a calf tattoo displaying the word “Irish.” Officials are working to locate the man and have asked anyone with information to contact the department.
A Church With Deep Roots in Bellevue
The theft struck at an institution with a long history in the borough. Bellevue United Presbyterian Church was organized in February 1872 by 21 founding members, giving the congregation a 154-year presence in Allegheny County, according to the church’s own account of its history and ministry, though the congregation traces its roots to a Sabbath School founded even earlier, in 1869…