Teens Charged after Church Gunpoint Robbery

From: Examiner

Church attendees at the Ira Groves Freewill Baptist Church, 1701 Belmont, in East St. Louis, were startled to see three gunmen enter their church at 5:30 pm and commit armed robbery, the Belleville News Democrat reported yesterday, Jan. 31, 2013.

One of the three men held a gun to the minister's head and ordered the congregationto the floor. The other two men proceeded to take valuables from the attendees which included jewelry, electronics, and their wallets

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Police call for Increase in Church Security - St. Louis Mayor Comments

From: KMOV 

Police call for local churches to increase security after latest robbery!

A robbery at an East St. Louis church is just the latest in a string of crimes at churches, places thought would be sacred ground and off limits to criminals.

Since a man with mental problemsshot the pastor of Maryville Baptist church four years ago, crime at churches across the nation has shot up 527 percent, according to a Missouri company that provides security advice and training to churches...

“It’s just totally, totally unacceptable to have someone there for a worship experience being robbed,” said East St. Louis Mayor Alvin Parks.

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New Mexico Pastor in Need of Security Upgrade

From: News Channel 10

SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) - Thieves have hit a historic Santa Fe church twice, and its pastor says the shrine is in dire need of a security upgrade.

KRQE-TV reports (http://bit.ly/LB8wfz) that the Santuario de Guadalupe was robbed last week after a thief pried open a little wooden box that holds donations from the faithful and swiped the money inside. Someone also busted through rod iron bars in the back of the church, broke a window and stole two wooden crosses.

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Teen Robs Church of Money

From: Fox Ten News

{Santa Rosa County Sheriff's Deputies said an Alabama teen was arrested after allegedly robbing a church in Pace.

Church leaders said the suspect, identified as 17-year-old Samuel Aaron Riley, went into Immanuel Baptist Church looking for help with gas money...

Church Administrator Andy Needles said dinner was wrapping up so they offered the teen a plate and he declined. Needles said they were making arrangements to give him some cash, when Riley grabbed the money box.}

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Choir Robbed at Gun Point at Church!

From: The Post and Courier

{As the strains of "I Have Decided to Follow Jesus" filled the sanctuary, a man with a long gun interrupted choir practice Wednesday in a Goose Creek church and made off with purses, wallets and cell phones.

"He yelled, 'Get on the floor! Get on the floor!' the whole time he was coming down the aisle of the church," said one of the nine robbery victims, 77-year-old Dorothy Causey, on Thursday.}

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3 Church Members and Pastor Robbed in Florida

From: Orlando Sentinel (Thanks Matt)

"A man who had just been robbed at his church told authorities that the two men who committed the robbery had been armed with large guns.

Sanford police today released a recording of a 911 call made in the terrifying minutes after the two masked men robbed three church band members and a pastor Wednesday night at Iglesia Apostólica, 2599 Sanford Ave."

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Nun Robbed at Gunpoint - Michigan

GROSSE POINTE PARK, Mich. — "Police are looking for a gunman they say robbed a 74-year-old nun at gunpoint while she was locking up a church in the Detroit suburb of Grosse Pointe Park.

WDIV-TV reports the nun was at St. Clare of Montefalco Catholic Church on Monday night when the man approached her from behind, pointed the gun at her and demanded money. WJBK-TV reports the nun wasn't carrying money and the gunman ordered her back into the church before he fled."

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Pastor Attacked and Robbed in Florida

"The pastor of a church in the north Seminole County community of Midway was kicked and beaten early Tuesday by two robbers who confronted him when he left his church, the Seminole County Sheriff's Office said today.

The Rev. Leonard Lee Wilson, 47, of Sanford, suffered injuries to his head and face and was treated by paramedics from Seminole County Fire Rescue, Sheriff's spokeswoman Kim Cannaday said."

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Hat-tip: Matt Larson

Gunman Robbed Political Candidate Outside Miami Church

"A gunman robbed 17th Congressional District candidate Marleine Bastien on Saturday, turning the campaign trail into a crime scene.

The 51-year-old community activist was outside a North Miami church where she was going to meet voters before Tuesday's primary. She is one of nine Democrats running for U.S. Rep. Kendrick Meek's seat."

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“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.