Pastor Stops Burglar at Antioch Church

On Thanksgiving Day, Pastor Nick Neves successfully thwarted a burglary at First Family Church in Antioch, California, using his martial arts training to restrain a suspect until police arrived. After responding to an alarm, Neves found a burglar who had broken in with an axe and was attempting to steal church property. When the suspect resisted arrest and tried to flee, Neves engaged him in a physical struggle for approximately 15 minutes before law enforcement arrived. The burglar is facing multiple charges including burglary, robbery, and battery, while Neves expressed no hatred towards him, hoping he would reconsider his choices. The pastor estimated damages to the church could be several thousand dollars, and he noted the irony that the church could have provided help to the suspect had he approached them earlier. The Antioch Police Department praised Neves' quick actions and martial arts skills, highlighting the incident as a victory of good over evil.