Weekly Church Crime News 11/07/2022

(November 03) Bell Stolen From Baptist Church In Rockingham

A bell has gone missing from a church in rural North Carolina, and deputies are looking for a suspect who left behind a pile of rubble where the bell rang. According to the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office, someone destroyed the brick housing around a large bell at Poplar Springs Missionary Baptist Church in Rockingham, which is about 70 miles east of Charlotte.

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(November 03) Saint Johnsbury Church Vandalized

SAINT JOHNSBURY, Vt. (WCAX) - Police are investigating a hate-motivated crime at a Saint Johnsbury church. Police on Wednesday said the Pleasant Street Baptist Church on Pleasant Street was vandalized when someone spray painted a large pentagram and “Saten” on the back of the building.

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(November 02) Sheriff Babb: Thieves Stole $162,194 From 36 Church Mailboxes Across Fayette; 6 of 17 Suspects Arrested

Investigators with the Fayette County Sheriff’s Office have uncovered a ring of thieves from Texas that stole checks from 36 churches in Fayette County, and from churches across 14 states. With six now in custody, the checks stolen from Fayette County totaled $162,192, while the total from the multi-state haul was $1.5 million.

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(November 02) Hundreds Of Dollars In Frozen Meat Stolen From Greensboro Church Food Pantry 

GREENSBORO, N.C. (WGHP) — Higher food prices are making it difficult for charitable programs to help those in need. One group in Greensboro hit another setback in these tough times when a break-in wiped out their food pantry. “It’s wrong,” Joe Gardner, a volunteer with the Vandalia Presbyterian Church in Greensboro, said. “It’s wrong, that is all I can say.”

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(November 01) Temple Police Continue Investigation In Theft Of Church Property

Temple, TEXAS (FOX 44) — Temple Police Department have identified three suspects over the weekend who stole from Corinth Baptist Church. The theft happened one month ago, and the historic congregation is still in disbelief that someone could do this. Corinth Baptist Church Pastor, Dr. Ulysees Barnes, says the theft occurred early Sunday morning on October 2nd with three intruders breaking into the building’s side door. Barnes came in around seven on the same day for service and was told there was a problem.

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(November 01) Thieves Steal Power Tools, Lawn Equipment From Our Lady Of Angels Church In Woodbridge

WOODBRIDGE, Va. - Thieves stole power tools and lawn equipment from Our Lady of Angels Church in Woodbridge last week. Authorities say the church in the 13000 block of Marys Way was burglarized sometime between 3 p.m. Wednesday and 7 a.m. Thursday. Police say the suspects broke into a trailer and several sheds stealing power tools, a power washer, a leaf blower, a chainsaw, and multiple gas-powered edgers.

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(October 30) Police: Gun Found In River After Shooting Outside Church

PITTSBURGH (AP) — Authorities say they have recovered a gun believed to have been thrown off a bridge by a suspect after a shooting that injured six people, one critically, outside a Pittsburgh church where a funeral was being held. Pittsburgh Public Safety officials said a river rescue team working off the McKees Rocks Bridge on Sunday morning was able to locate a firearm matching the description of the firearm used in Friday's shooting outside Destiny of Faith Church.

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(October 29) 1 Man Dead In Shooting Near Florissant Church

FLORISSANT, Mo. — One man died Saturday afternoon after he was shot near a church in Florissant, police said. According to the Calvary Bible Church of Florissant's Facebook page, they were set to host a Community Harvest Festival from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday. 

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(October 28) Man Charged For Stealing Money From Sioux City Church

SIOUX CITY, Iowa (KCAU) — A man is being charged with breaking into a Sioux City church and stealing money out of a locked cash box on Thursday. According to the Sioux City Police Department, Santos Harvey, 39, broke into the Cathedral of the Epiphany just before 1 p.m. Officials said that Harvey approached the church’s east-side door and tore off the handle. He then went to the northeast door, broke open the door’s window, and opened the door using the pushout handle.

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(October 28) Alabama Pastor Now Charged In 3 Counties On Child Sex Allegations Involving 7-Year-Old Girl

An Alabama pastor jailed earlier this month on allegations of sexual abuse of a 7-year-old girl is now facing more charges. The Rev. Kenneth Harold Daniel, pastor at First Baptist Church of Chalkville, was charged in Blount County with facilitating solicitation of unlawful sexual conduct with a child.

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