Churches in the area of the county are receiving some unwanted guests that are preying on their resources and breaking into their places of worship. Also the community and Sheriff’s Office is asking for the public to help solve the on-going crimes.

Also the crimes against the churches are not just a local issue, as other surrounding counties are also reporting a number of similar crimes.

On Friday, June 26, Sheriff’s deputies were called to Mount Tabor Lutheran Church on Mount Tabor Road after a break in was reported.

“It was obvious that the church had been gone through; however, it did not appear that any items were taken,“ said Sheriff Lee Foster.

The Mount Tabor Church was broken into a second time, only two days later on Saturday, June 28.

This time church officials indicated that a television valued at $700 was taken from the church.

Wednesday morning deputies were called to Holy Trinity Lutheran Church on Church Street in Little Mountain where a burglary had occurred between 11 a.m. Tuesday and Wednesday at 9 a.m.

“While someone went through items in the church, it did not appear anything was taken,“ said Foster.

Later Wednesday, investigators responded to Dreher Island Baptist Church on State Park Road in Prosperity for another burglary. The officers learned that this incident occurred sometime between Monday mid-day and Wednesday afternoon.

“As with the burglary at Holy Trinity Church while someone went through items in the church, it did not appear anything was taken,“ said Foster.

Yesterday, investigators were called to Mt. Pilgrim Lutheran Church located on Mt. Pilgrim Church Road in Prosperity. Investigators say that the only thing taken from the burglary was a small amount of change.

Later in the day, investigators responded to Calvary Baptist Church on Calvary Church Road off Highway 221 outside of Newberry for another break in. Foster says that it does not appear anything was taken from church at this time.

The suspects broke into all of the churches by forcing their way in and the entry is consistent in all but one break in.

However, for the integrity of the investigation investigators have declined to give details of how the entry was made. The Sheriff’s Office does not have a description of the suspects or vehicle used in the burglaries.

Investigators say that they are communicating with surrounding counties who have had similar burglaries at churches in hopes of being much more successful through the combined effort and greater communication.

“Extra patrols will be made in not only these but all area churches and that a concentrated effort will be made on both proactive patrols and intensive criminal investigations to offer the greatest possible protection and services to the churches and community as a whole,“ said Foster.

Foster also encourages pastors, church officers, and church members to make sure that all doors to churches are locked and that no money is left in the church.

“Breaking into someone’s home is horrible,“ said Foster. “But to break into God’s house is simply despicable. Our officers will be working to make every effort to bring the person or persons responsible for these burglaries to justice for their crimes.“