Des Moines Church Burglaries

From: WHOTV13 - Des Moines
Des Moines police are investigating two burglaries at area church buildings.

Eagle Vision Church on Southwest 9th says someone pried into an office Friday.

The victims reported a laptop and medallion as missing...

Valley Church Southview says it was targeted sometime Sunday or Monday.
Click for Article: http://whotv.com/2014/01/14/burglary-investigation-two-churches-targeted/

Hat-Tip: Sandra Jessee

Will Your House Be Broken Into This Year?

What are the odds that your home will be broken into this year?

Unfortunately, according to burglary statistics within the United States, one in every thirty-six homes will be burglarized in this year alone, resulting in an average loss of $1,675 per break-in.

Statistic from: ASecureLife.com

Burglars Steal TVs - San Antonio Church

From: HSAT News

SAN ANTONIO - Burglars smashed out a window and busted into a building to steal flat screen TV's from a northside church.

The thieves scored three flat screens from the children's ministry area of the Friendship Church in the 14000 block of San Pedro.

Church leaders had just shown up for Sunday services when they discovered the break-in

Click for Article

Houston Church Parishioners Stop Thief

From: ABC 13 News

HOUSTON (KTRK) -- The suspect in a southwest Houston church burglary was in the hospital Saturday night after being caught by parishioners...

Police say a suspect used a sledge hammer the bust through the wall and steal several band instruments.

Members living nearby went inside the building to inspect the damage and found one suspect hiding in the ceiling.

Click for Full Story

Company Donates Security System To Church

From: News on 6

TULSA, Oklahoma -
A Tulsa church is getting some much needed extra security features. all for free.

It comes after a shocking number of burglaries where thieves have taken just about everything they can get their hands on—even paper plates and toilet paper.

Crews with a Tulsa company called Security by Black installed a few things to make Lakeview Heights Baptist Church more burglar-proof.

Click for article

NewsOn6.com - Tulsa, OK - News, Weather, Video and Sports - KOTV.com |

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.

Read More

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. 

Memphis Church Burglary Spree

From: WREG Memphis

"A total of 11 burglaries into churches near the Tate and Marshall County line have investigators and all community churches on high alert.

In the last month and a half, seven Marshall County churches and four Tate County churches have all been broken into. Some of them had valuable items stolen, like laptops, flat screen TVs, and even X Box consoles from the youth rooms."

Click for Article Link

Note: Physical security precautions like alarm systems, cameras, and door locks can help prevent similar burglaries at your church facility. Email me if you need more information on specifics for your church building.

Church Targeted Three Times!

"A church in Decatur is trying to replace up to $14,000 in stolen electronics and cash after thieves targeted it three times.

Briarlake Baptist Church Pastor Tommy Ferrell told WSB-TV that thieves apparently broke into the building on Saturday. Then they came back two more times."

Click for Article

Interview with Gainsville Times

I was contacted by a reporter yesterday from the Gainsville Times in Georgia. It was a good interview related to why churches need to take church security seriously. Below are a few of my quotes and a link to the article

Click for Article

"Places of worship can be more vulnerable to burglaries than commercial or residential buildings, said Brian Gallagher, who runs the website “Security At Church.”
 

“A church is a little different because it’s viewed as an easier target,” he said. “The majority of churches don’t have alarm systems.
 

Churches as a whole are a decade behind the curve from other industries in seeing the need for security.”

A Decade of Vandals and Burglars!

"A Lehigh Acres church that has been the target of vandals and burglars for more than a decade has sustained another setback.
 

All Lehigh Community Baptist Church's 22 windows were shattered from the inside, causing an estimated $5,300 in damages, according to a Lee County Sheriff's Office report."
 

Click for Article

Church Burglar Leaves Birth Certificate

After reading this article I have decided to start a dumb criminal award for this blog. To date this is the winner!






YORK, Pa. — "Police said a man who stole petty cash from a central Pennsylvania church is in custody after leaving his birth certificate behind when he left. Authorities said 28-year-old Allen Larry Dawes has been extradited to York County to faces charges after being arrested earlier this month in New Jersey."


Click for Article

$1,000 Reward in Church Burglary Case

(Cullman, AL) "WIAT- Is nothing sacred? That's the sentiment in Cullman County where burglars hit eight churches in one night. Sheriff Tyler Roden says they're stealing and doing damage in the process."

Click for Article

Morning Coffee Surprise

What would you do if you unlocked and opened up your church one morning, walked into your office and there was a man sitting at your desk sipping coffee? This is what occurred Monday morning at the Holy Trinity Lutheran Church in Erie.

Police said Chad M. Walburn, 25, “broke through one of the doors of the Holy Trinity Lutheran Church and caused extensive damage to the building”… “He damaged almost everything in the altar area,” said church pastor Karen Lundwall. “It looks like he was just doing it for the sake of vandalizing”. http://www.goerie.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20100216/NEWS02/302159907
 

Church Burglary Caught on Tape

Its not often that you capture a church burglary on tape. More churches should have surveillance video. It serves as both a deterrence and as a way to assist in catching and convicting criminals who may commit a crime against your church. 

Churches Unite to Combat Crime

Multiple churches in the Jackson, Mississippi area have become victim to multiple crimes in this new era of economic hardship. Local law enforcement along with area churches have formed a church watch group. Other jurisdictions should follow this example and liaison with other churches in their local area. Regardless of denomination or affiliation a good relationship with neighboring churches can bring a wealth of knowledge to your congregation. 


"As Jackson police and church officials come together to combat a rash of church burglaries, one minister says the problem could get worse because of the economy and job losses...The rash of recent church burglaries have alarmed the public, destroying the widely held belief that criminals would respect God’s house."
http://www.clarionledger.com/article/20100201/NEWS/100201016/1001/JPD-program-to-combat-church-break-ins

Spree of Church Burglaries

JACKSON, Miss. -- At least four Jackson churches have been burglarized in the last week, police said. The most recent break-in was reported Monday morning at the Cornerstone M.B. Church. http://www.wapt.com/crime-stoppers/22333813/detail.html

As you read this story you will find a common them among the churches. All the items that were stolen were electronic equipment. Why to burglars break into churches. They do it because they know that they can steal something of value and get away with it. They are looking for fast cash.

What can you do? Over and over again I talk about the importance of burglar alarms systems and video surveillance. These items serve as a deterrence and also aid law enforcement in catching the criminals and ultimately prosecuting them.

In the mean time you should take a photograph of everything of value within your church. You also need to record item, model, and serial numbers. This list should be kept both at the church and also at a separate location. This information will be essential in making insurance claims, as well as, for providing to the police. Most criminals attempt to pawn stolen merchandise for quick cash. These lists can be provided to local pawn shops. They can also be entered into a national database which would allow for law enforcement agencies all over the country to cross reference the information.

Thief destroys Church Air Conditioners

Thief destroys church air conditioners for copper pipes

When someone is in need of money they will be willing to do almost anything to get it. This story brings a whole new prospective to securing your facility. I understand that churches can’t lock up their heating and air conditioning units; however, there may be some things you can do to make it less appealing to the bandit. Consider building a fence around your units. This helps for visual esthetics as well as security. If you have a fence then put a lock on the door and use it. Camera’s can be installed to monitor this area as a deterrent. HVAC units are common targets for other type of terrorist related crimes as well (feel free to email me for more information on this). It is good overall practice to secure the air intakes to your facility.

Cops Hunt Church Burglar

Nassau police are searching for the suspect who stole money from a Massapequa church on Sunday afternoon.

http://www.longislandpress.com/2009/12/14/cops-hunt-church-burglar-who-stole-from-poor-box/

Is your church collecting money for the poor this holiday season? How are you protecting the money? Is it placed in a location that is easy for someone to grab and run? Taking a little time to consider how you are protecting this money may help your church congregation provide for a family in need this Christmas season. Don’t assume that since the money is for the poor that no one will think about stealing it. Poor is a relative term and unfortunately some people look at their own circumstances and will take things into their own hands.