Plumber accused of stealing from tabernacle

A plumber from Bay Shore was arraigned on grand larceny charges Friday after police said he stole a solid-brass tabernacle -- a locked box -- from a Uniondale church where he was making repairs to a boiler.

Bail was set at $25,000 bond or cash for Peter J. Vignona, 53, of 34 Brook Ave., who appeared in First District Court in Hempstead.

Nassau County police said the tabernacle, as well as scrap metal, was stolen at about 1:20 p.m. Jan. 8 from the church at 1220 Front St.

An investigation led to the arrest of Vignona at his Bay Shore home at 11:40 p.m. Thursday, police said. Police said Vignona, working for Traditional AC Plumbing, was charged with third-degree and fourth-degree grand larceny.

The tabernacle was not recovered, police said.

Vignona is scheduled to return to court Jan. 22.