37-year-old Allan Sanders was charged with theft of property when he was suspected to have stolen $1200 from a purse sitting on a chair at Lighthouse Victory Temple Church.
On October 31st, Memphis Police Officer Jackson Roberts responded to Lighthouse Victory Temple Church located at 1277 Homer Street in regards to a theft call. Maria Hernandez told officers that she left her purse that contained $1200 sitting on her chair when she walked to the front of the church and when she returned, her purse was missing. Ruth Corea Mejia told officers that her daughter saw a black man wearing a red jacket walk near the second pew, go to the bathroom, and then leave the church. Per the report, Hernandez found her purse in the bathroom and the $1,200 was missing from it. Officers reviewed church security cameras which recorded a black male exit the church wearing a red and black jacket and leave the premises on a black bicycle.
Officers later dispatched to a residence located at 1260 Salem Street where they came in contact with Allan Sanders. He told officers that he was trying to get his bicycle from David Howard. The officer’s report stated that Howard saw Sanders come to his home with the black bicycle wearing a red and black jacket. Officers noted in the report that the bicycle and a red and black checkered jacket was on the porch. Sanders was identified from the church video as the theft suspect. He was transported to Tillman Station where he waived his rights and stated that he found the bike but denied ownership of the jacket.
Allan Sanders was arrested and charged with theft of property. He is currently jailed in lieu of a $2,000 bond.
