Bungling Bandit Calls 911 on Himself with Stolen 6-Foot Crucifix in Motel Bed

In a comical yet bizarre turn of events, a man mistakenly dialing 911 from his Tennessee motel room, where he had a stolen 6-foot crucifix tucked in his bed. Jacob Vanderburg, 31, was apprehended by Sumner County Sheriff’s deputies after they stumbled upon the large wooden cross, allegedly pilfered from a Florida church in early December.

The peculiar saga began when Vanderburg, looking disheveled, entered the St. Paul Catholic Church in Florida with a red cup. Upon being informed that he couldn't consume beverages inside, he bizarrely claimed he was "just looking for Jesus," according to the Sunshine State police department.

Things took a dramatic turn when a female staff member requested him to depart, but instead of complying, Vanderburg made his way to the altar and reportedly snatched the crucifix. A scuffle ensued, with Vanderburg dragging the worker across the parking lot until she relinquished her grip, before fleeing in his van with the stolen religious artifact.

Over a month later, Vanderburg's blundering move of accidentally dialing 911 from his motel room at the Country Inn Motel led authorities straight to his location. The purloined crucifix was found discreetly placed under a blanket, but suspicions arose when Vanderburg displayed an unusual level of protectiveness over it, as per the sheriff’s office.

Upon a swift investigation, it was unveiled that Jacob Vanderburg was not just any guest; he was a wanted man in Florida, facing charges of theft, trespassing, and robbery. Consequently, he was charged as a fugitive from justice, with a pending robbery charge in Pensacola, authorities confirmed.