$80,000 church antiques stolen, sold for $100

Milwaukee police said two men broke into a church and stole antique candle holders worth as much as $80,000, and then sold them for scrap for $100.

Police said Saturday the suspects were arrested this week following Monday’s burglary at St. Anthony Catholic Church.

Authorities said the suspects stole several antique gold and brass candle holders. Detectives found at least some of them in a south-side home, and the buyer led officers to one of the suspects.

Police said the 31-year-old suspect told investigators he and a 55-year-old man took the candle holders. The man said the two smashed the marble off the candle holders to make them fit into the garbage can they used to transport the antiques to a metal buyer.

The 31-year-old was arrested Thursday. The 55-year-old was arrested Friday.