A man’s musical inclination has landed him behind bars. Claremont police nabbed 32-year-old Jesse Goede of Pomona on Thursday, believed to be responsible for stealing thousands of dollars worth of musical instruments and equipment from local churches.

St. Luke’s Lutheran Church, 2050 N. Indian Hill Blvd., was targeted 3 times over the past month with North Hills Church, 1717 N. Mountain Ave., burglarized once, according to Claremont Detective Rick Varney. Follow-up investigation led police to suspect Mr. Goede. Officers caught up with Mr. Goede on his afternoon bike ride on Thursday. Police served a search warrant at 2 storage units and Mr. Goede’s residence in Pomona, where an estimated $20,000 in stolen items were found—from mixing boards to microphones and an electric clarinet. Stolen property from both Claremont churches was recovered.