SANTA FE SPRINGS — Police jailed a man early Sunday on suspicion of stealing wiring from a church.

Martin Vega-Woods, 43, of Corona, was booked on suspicion of burglary, as well as an outstanding warrant in connection with the early-morning break-in at the Florence Avenue Foursquare Church, 11457 E. Florence Ave., Whittier police Lt. Randy Inman said.

A man was walking his dog about 7 a.m. at Lake Center Athletic Park, about a block west of the church on Florence Avenue, when he encountered a man later identified as Vega-Woods, the lieutenant said.

Vega-Woods was trying to strip the copper out of about 30 pounds of heavy-duty cabling and asked the dog-walker for a knife, Inman said. The man with the dog thought the situation suspicious and called police.

Officers determined that Vega-Woods had broken into the church and stolen exposed wiring from an electrical room prior to Sunday morning services, police said.