Praises were given to God Friday afternoon as law enforcement officers announced the conclusion of a tri-county church burglary spree.

Gathered at Saint Peter’s Lutheran Church on Dreher Island Road at the Lexington and Newberry county lines, Lexington County Sheriff James Metts and Newberry County Sheriff Lee Foster led a press conference announcing that three people have been arrested for breaking into at least 25 churches between the two counties. There are 19 churches in Lexington County and six in Newberry County that have discovered intruders so far.

While charges continue to be filed, Kayla Ann Graydon, 18, of 168 Crystal Cove Court, Chapin; Patrick Burton Olvey, 20, of 236 Sampson Road, Gilbert; and James Richard Osborne, 20, of 425 Holy Trinity Church Road, Little Mountain are all in jail in Lexington County for the break-ins.

Newberry County Sheriff’s investigators have charged each of the three with seven counts of second degree burglary and one count of criminal conspiracy with break-ins between June 26 and July 12.

In Lexington County, Graydon, Olvey and Osborne went on a nearly two month-crime spree at churches that began on May 24 and ended on July 14, Metts said. Graydon, Olvey and Osborne committed 20 crimes at 18 Lexington County churches, including St. Peters Lutheran Church in Chapin. The crimes that Graydon, Olvey and Osborne committed at churches in Lexington County included 14 burglaries, four acts of vandalism and two larcenies.

Lexington County charged Graydon and Osborne with second degree burglary and criminal conspiracy, Metts and Foster said. Additional charges are pending against Graydon and Osborne.

Olvey was being held on Friday at the Lexington County Detention Center on charges of first degree burglary and criminal conspiracy, Metts and Foster said. Additional charges are pending against Olvey.

Olvey appeared in court at 8:30 a.m. on Friday for a first appearance hearing during which a Lexington County magistrate formally advised Olvey that he is charged with first degree burglary and criminal conspiracy, Metts said. Under South Carolina law, a circuit judge would have to set bond for Olvey in general sessions court because first degree burglary is a felony that carries a maximum punishment of life in prison. The 11th Judicial Circuit Solicitor’s Office has not yet scheduled a bond hearing for Olvey.

As the thefts continued for more than two months, investigators in Lexington and Newberry counties began to work together to find the suspects.

Calhoun County Deputy Sgt. David Martin spotted Olvey and Osborne early last Monday morning outside of a rural Calhoun County church. Martin questioned the two, checked their identification and let them go.

An hour later, the two are charged with breaking into Sardis Baptist Church in Lexington County, damaging electronics and trying to destroy the church’s surveillance camera. But the camera’s tape held the images and it was broadcast through news media.

Martin saw the tapes and called Metts’ office. According to Metts, the suspects were wearing the same clothing as they had on when they broke into the church.

Metts described the trio as “pot heads, smoking marijuana” and breaking into churches to get money or items to convert to cash to buy marijuana and stay in motels.

“They were living the high life,“ said Metts.

Both sheriffs say the actions were low.

“We want to send a message that you can’t break into God’s house and not get caught because he will assist (law enforcement),“ said Metts, adding the press conference was held at one of the churches that was broken into to honor God. “We do this in the sanctity of thanking God in assisting us, keeping us safe and to send a strong message that if you believe, God will take care of you.“

When asked why the thieves would pick churches to specifically break into and steal from, the suspects told officers they were easy targets, said Metts, adding some churches don’t lock their doors.

While the most money stole from a Newberry church was just $16, electronics were taken and sentimental items such as the cross a pastor was given to wear around his neck or a Cross brand pen given as a graduation gift.

“The damage these people have done to the churches and taxpayers is irreplaceable,“ said Foster, of the vandalism to the churches and resources to solve the crimes.

Much of what was stolen was taken to a Newberry pawnshop and traded for money.

“They did not steal a whole bunch, but took away the innocence. People were afraid to come to church at night,“ said St. Peters Pastor David Tholstrup, whose church was broken into twice. “But one item they missed out on is an eternal relationship with Christ.“

St. Peter’s member and Prosperity resident Janice Hallman says the arrest makes her feel more secure in going to church.

“I know these churches, the pastors, the members—if (the suspects) needed something the churches would have gone out of their way to provide. Not money to smoke marijuana, but for food and to live. They do it every day,“ said Foster.

The lawmen say churches need to lock their doors when not in use, to immediately deposit Sunday collections and to install security systems and fire alarms.

Hallman says the community needs to form crime watch zones.