ELK GROVE, Calif. (CBS13) — An impromptu sting helped a pastor recover a stolen iPad after it was taken during a home burglary.

Rock Church Pastor Johannes Escudero said a number of valuables, including the expensive Apple tablet computer, were stolen when a burglar smashed up their home while the family was at church.

“Our kitchen slider had been bashed in and our house ransacked,” Escudero said.

Investigators told the family it seemed like the culprit knew the victims and may have visited their home earlier, but no suspects were immediately identified.

Escudero’s wife woke up the following morning and checked the online classifieds site Craigslist on a whim.

“She sees an iPad here on Craigslist that is way too similar to the one that was stolen and thinks, ‘It can’t be a coincidence,’” Escudero said.

The family sent a relative to meet the seller at a Starbucks. The serial number directly matched the stolen iPad, and the Sacramento Police Department detained the seller.

“The investigation led to the location of the victim’s iPad and ultimately the arrest of the suspect,” said police spokesperson Laura Peck.

Authorities arrested Omar Abumarkheih for felony possession of stolen property. The suspect happens to be the son of parishioners at the Escudero’s church.

“We’re praying for them any anything we can do to rehabilitate the gentleman, we want to be the first in line to do,” Escudero said.

Escudero plans to testify on the suspect’s behalf in an upcoming court appearance.

Investigators recommend theft victims to refrain from meeting potential suspects themselves, and instead contact law enforcement.