MMA-trained pastor fights off dim-witted thief who targeted church on Thanksgiving
An MMA-trained pastor fought off a dim-witted thief who targeted a church on Thanksgiving.
Pastor Nick Neves, 46, got a shock Thanksgiving morning when he heard an alarm going off at the First Family Church in Antioch, California, near San Francisco.
He found an unexpected visitor wielding an axe in the church after he used the weapon to break a window.
The two got into a tussle as Antioch Police officers rushed to the scene.
‘When the burglar saw his wicked deeds had been discovered he decided to fight with the pastor instead of repent,’ the police wrote in a statement.
‘I shouted at him to stop, and that the police were on their way, and he ran and I grabbed a hold of him and we ended up wrestling in the parking lot of the church,’ Neves, who is trained in martial arts, told NBC Bay Area.
After about 15 minutes of the pair grappling, the unidentified thief tired out. Neves credits his background in jujitsu and kickboxing for helping him keep the alleged criminal contained until help arrived.
‘I was able to pin him to the ground and he got up and try to get away several times, but basically just trying to wear him out because I knew I could outlast him,’ the father-of-five told NBC Bay Area.
Pastor Nick Neves, 46, was in for a shocking treat early Thanksgiving morning when he heard an alarm going off at the First Family Church in Antioch, California , near San Francisco
He found an unexpected visitor (pictured getting taken into custody) wielding an axe in the church after he used the weapon to break a window. The two got into a tussle as Antioch Police officers rushed to the scene
The axe the unidentified suspect used to break into the church
After about 15 minutes of the pair grappling, the unidentified thief tired out and Neves thanks his background in jujitsu and kickboxing for helping him keep the alleged criminal contained until help arrived
‘We are thankful today that the pastor was uninjured during this incident and hopeful that with amazing community members like we have been highlighting lately, we can turn the tide on crime in our city,’ police said in a statement.
Church member, Jeff Strawther, is happy Pastor Neves was unharmed.
‘It could’ve gone in totally different direction and we thank God that it didn’t,’ he told NBC Bay Area. ‘He’s very tough and we’re very grateful to God that he’s our pastor and not our enemy.’
Neves just hopes the thief will change his ways and wishes he never broke into the church, which would have been more than willing to provide him help for free.
‘t’s just ironic. If he had come a couple of days earlier, he would have been blessed and get some food and be cared for,’ Neves said.
The church had handed out groceries to 130 families ahead of the Thanksgiving holiday.
‘But he decided instead to smash windows and desecrate property and do something that’s going to hurt the ministries,’ Neves told the outlet.
The thief was taken into custody.
