California Pastor Uses Martial Arts to Subdue Church Burglar on Thanksgiving

Pastor Nick Neves restrained an axe-wielding intruder at his Antioch church, relying on years of Brazilian jiu-jitsu training to hold the suspect until police arrived.

• Pastor Nick Neves of First Family Church in Antioch confronted a burglar who had broken into the church early Thanksgiving morning using an axe to smash a window.
• The intruder attempted to flee with stolen items, but Neves restrained him in a 12-15 minute struggle in the church parking lot until police arrived to arrest the suspect.
• Neves, who has trained in Brazilian jiu-jitsu and kickboxing since high school, focused on subduing the man without causing harm, emphasizing his goal of protecting the church and ensuring justice.
• The suspect caused several thousand dollars in damages but only managed to take miscellaneous items such as tools and leftover food from the church's community programs.
• Neves expressed hope that the incident would lead the suspect to reflect on his actions, stating his willingness to share the church's message of redemption with him in the future.

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