CONNELLY SPRINGS, N.C. – A Burke County man has been arrested in connection with the theft of musical instruments and electronics following a recent break-in at a local church in the area.

Eric Harlan Queen, 28, of 3557 Icard Rhodhiss Road in Connelly Springs, was arrested by the Burke County Sheriff’s Office on Monday, March 18, and charged with felony breaking and/or entering to a place of worship, felony larceny after breaking and/or entering, felony possession of stolen property and misdemeanor unlawful use of game land access.

Queen received a $30,500 secured bond for the charges.

According to the Burke County Sheriff’s Office, deputies responded to a reported break-in at First Baptist Church Icard in Connelly Springs on Saturday, March 16. Pastor Micheal Pardue told deputies that someone broke into the church and stole multiple musical instruments and a variety of electronic devices from the sanctuary, the sheriff’s office said in a news release.

Detectives met with Pardue on March 18 to review surveillance footage of the incident. Investigators determined that the suspect was most likely on foot, had made two separate trips to the church and changed clothes between incidents, the release said.

Later that afternoon, authorities responded to Queen’s residence on Icard Rhodhiss Road for an unrelated call. While on the scene, detectives gathered information that Queen and stolen property from the church were likely inside the home, the release said.

Before authorities could enter the home, another occupant informed officers that Queen was fleeing from the other side of the home. Deputies secured the residence while detectives obtained a search warrant.

While searching the home, detectives found multiple items in Queen’s bedroom that had been reported stolen from the church, along with other items that linked him to other reported breaking-and-entering incidents and thefts in the area.

Later that evening, the Burke County Emergency Communications Center received a call that Queen had returned to the residence. When deputies responded, Queen turned himself over with no further incident, the news release said.

Queen was charged with felony breaking-and-entering, larceny and possession of stolen goods related to the church break-in, and he was also charged with misdemeanor unlawful use of game land access area based on an outstanding warrant.

Pardue said the musical instruments that were taken, which included two bass guitars and an acoustic guitar, had been recovered and returned to the church. Some of the electronic equipment, however, has not yet been recovered. Pardue said electronic devices taken included cameras that were used for recording worship services, a camcorder, a cell phone and various other computer equipment.

Pardue said the residence where Queen was arrested is just a short distance from the church, and the church is visible from the home through a line of trees.

Video surveillance footage captured by security cameras at the church showed a masked individual entering the facility multiple times on the evening of Saturday, March 16. Pardue posted images of the incident to the church’s Facebook page along with pictures of some of the items that were taken and asked if anyone had any information to contact the Burke County Sheriff’s Office.

Pardue said the security footage and sharing news of the incident helped solve the case. Investigators were able to identify clothing worn by the suspect from the video footage, Pardue said.

Pardue thanked the community for the numerous offers of assistance First Baptist Icard received following the incident, which came from individuals, area churches and the Baptist State Convention of North Carolina. Pardue also encouraged pastors and churches to be vigilant in their security efforts.

“We’re grateful for the support we’ve received,” Pardue said. “Incidents like this are a reminder that we live in a fallen world, and we pray that the person involved can turn his life around.”