MMA Fighter Jason "Mayhem" Miller - Naked in Church

From: Boston.com

MISSION VIEJO, Calif.—Mixed martial arts fighter and reality show host Jason "Mayhem" Miller was in jail on suspicion of burglary Monday night after deputies responding to reports of a break-in said they found him naked inside a Southern California church.

Miller was being held on $20,000 bail and was scheduled to appear in court Wednesday, Orange County jail records showed.

The pastor at Mission Hills Church in Mission Viejo called authorities when he found evidence of a break-in Monday morning, including books and CDs that were strewn about, white powder on the floors and missing boards from a previously broken window, sheriff's spokesman Jim Amormino said.

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Ashe Church Totaled in Sunday Arson Fire

From: Go Blue Ridge

Ashe investigators are now saying that the early Sunday morning fire that destroyed an Ashe church was arson, a fire set to cover a break-in and theft. The North Beaver Baptist Church was totally destroyed in the blaze, discovered by a passing deputy. The deputy found the church, at the Boggs Road intersection with NC 163, with smoke pouring from the eaves at about 1 Sunday morning, according to church member Conard Mash.

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My Thoughts: This article was brought to my attention by Humphrey Hayes, who is the director of security of Samaritan's Purse. What caught my attention about this article was the fact that the fire was set to cover up the break-in and theft. almost every week I can find a story related to a church fire. Within those fires it is extremely common to learn that the result was arson related. What is rare is to find an arson related fire that was set to cover the tracks of another crime. 

Roanoke Church Targeted: Theft

From: WSLS News

{A Roanoke church was the target of a burglar overnight. Now, police are asking for your help to track down a suspect.

Sometime between 7:30pm Saturday and 8:30am Sunday, someone smashed the glass front door to the Galilee Baptist Church Ministry in the Plaza of Roanoke-Salem shopping center on Melrose.

They then took a jar full of money the church says it was collecting to buy a van. An envelope of money they had hoped to use for a radio ministry was also taken.}

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Does your Church have an Alarm?

GREEN BAY (WFRV) - "Green Bay police have arrested a man they say broke into a Green Bay church early this morning.

Authorities say the alarm went off around 2 a.m. at St. Francis Xavier Cathedral."

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Church Break-In Chapel Hill, NC

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. — "Authorities are investigating after the Lighthouse Baptist Church at 12063 U.S. Highway 15/501 in Chapel Hill was vandalized overnight Friday...Satanic and obscene messages were sprayed on the church's walls, hymn books were destroyed and windows were broken during the break-in...Authorities said the suspect, or suspects, likely broke into the church through a back window. The church did not have an alarm system or security cameras, Hall said."

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Note the last line in the above quote: " The church did not have an alarm system or security cameras"

Authorities Advise Churches to Step up Security

ALBANY, GA – "Authorities in Thomas County are advising churches to step up their security after multiple church burglaries there. The most recent burglary happened early Tuesday morning at Victory Baptist Church."

Read Full Article from WALB

“Sorry but I’m poor, Forgive me Lord”

Click for Article:
http://www.popfi.com/2009/11/27/growing-criminal-trend-church-robbery/

I know there’s usually money somewhere on church property thanks to the collection plate, but I never realized just how much electronic equipment there is in your average house of worship.

For the fourth time in two years, a building in Ellenwood, Georgia has been broken into by desperate criminals. However, this is the first time the robber has left behind a written plea for forgiveness after his crime.

The criminals wrote the words “Sorry but I’m poor, Forgive me Lord” on a side wall of the church before departing. The words alluded to the fact that the criminals needed money. Often time’s churches are viewed by criminals as easy targets. The writer of the linked article stated: “I know there’s usually money somewhere on church property thanks to the collection plate, but I never realized just how much electronic equipment there is in your average house of worship.” Criminals have realized this too! Most church collect money and it is a source for easy cash during a break-in. Churches big or small tend to have thousands of dollars worth of sound and musical equipment. More times than not these are the items that the criminals are targeting. Music and sound equipment made quick cash when handed over to the local pawn shop!

Reflections:

Why was this church broken into 4 times in two years? From the picture it does not look like it is stuck in the bad part of the inner city…

What could the church have done after the first break-in to make it harder for the 2nd, 3rd & 4th ones to occur? (New Locks, Alarm System, Cameras)

Churches should keep an itemized list of all electronic equipment. This should include serial numbers, photo’s and estimated values. The insurance company will need this information once the items are discovered stolen or damaged. Another law enforcement trick is to have the names, telephone numbers, and fax numbers of all pawn shops in the area. In the event that items are stolen they you can fax your list to all locations which may help you in the recovery of lost items.