Police arrest man for trying to rob nun

A would-be thief came up empty-handed after trying to rob a nun who had taken a vow of poverty.

The man broke into the 61-year-old Catholic nun’s home shortly after 8 a.m. Tuesday. When she told him she had no money, he forced her to drive him around in her car for almost an hour in search of money.

As they drove, the robber apologized “to the victim and wonders if he’s going to be forgiven by her and the Catholic Church,” police spokesman Joel DeSpain said.

The two did not stop at a bank or cash machine because the Sinsinawa Dominican sister continued to tell the man she did not have any money or access to any.

Eventually, the man gave up and had the nun drop him off on Madison’s south side. She then drove to the Catholic school where she works and called police.

Police arrested the 41-year-old Madison man later Tuesday on a probation violation and tentative charges of kidnapping, burglary, battery and possession of drug paraphernalia. He has not yet been formally charged.