Gages Lake man charged with stealing from donation box at monastery

A Gages Lake man who police say is a repeat church burglar was charged with felony burglary after authorities say he stole from a donation box inside New Gracanica Serbian Monastery in Third Lake on Thursday.

A judge set bail for David Uzelac, 27, of the 33600 block of North Evergreen Drive, at $200,000 on Friday, Lake County Sheriff's Office Lt. Christopher Covelli said. Uzelac remains behind bars and would have to put up $20,000 in cash in order to leave jail while his trial is pending.

Uzelac is charged with felony burglary, felony violation of bail bond, felony theft, misdemeanor criminal trespass to a building and misdemeanor driving while license revoked.

Sheriff's detectives were conducting surveillance at a possible drug dealing site on Thursday near the monastery at 35249 West Grant Ave., when they noticed Uzelac quickly walk in and out of the building, the sheriff's office said in a news release.

Detectives became aware Uzelac was not allowed at the monastery, due to previous burglaries he committed there.

While detectives followed Uzelac, sheriff's patrol deputies met with monastery officials and determined Uzelac had taken money from a donation box inside the building, according to the release.

The officers arrested Uzelac near Georgetown Lane and Williamsburg Drive in Waukegan.