Brothers arrested in trio of thefts

Waynesboro police arrested two brothers Thursday on charges they broke into three churches, stealing cash, cameras, a mirror and a laptop.

Stephen P. Bakaitis, 23, and Joshua T. Bakaitis, 21, each face charges of grand larceny, destruction of property and petty larceny for break-ins at St. John’s Episcopal Church, Valley Pastoral Counseling and Bethany Lutheran Church between March 14 and March 19.

DNA matches linked the brothers to the crimes, city police told The News Virginian on Wednesday.

After learning of the lab results, police searched Joshua Bakaitis’ Waynesboro apartment and his brother’s tent along the South River, turning up items stolen from area churches, according to court documents.

City police increased patrols at churches after the break-ins and church officials increased security before the “uncommon” DNA match made for a break in the case.

In two searches, police seized stolen items and other evidence from the brothers, including three pairs of shoes to be compared to footprint photographs from the crime scenes, said Waynesboro police Sgt. Becky Moran.

Interviewed at the Arch Avenue apartment where they were staying Wednesday, both brothers said they had struggled with poverty.

The Bakaitises’ stepbrother was killed in 2007 when he was burned by a foundry wire while trying to steal copper in Radford, according to The Roanoke Times. Their father was severely burned in the incident. Their mother was serving a yearlong jail sentence at the time.

The brothers moved to Waynesboro after failing to find work in Radford. They faced similar struggles here, they said.

Shortly before his stepbrother’s death, Stephen Bakaitis was arrested for break-ins at three Radford-area businesses. He is partway through a five-year probation sentence after being convicted of grand larceny and breaking and entering. He awaits hearings on recent Waynesboro charges of public intoxication and trapping without a license.