By Staff
Thief or thieves break in, grab cash
By TED STRONG
Staff Writer
OLD FORD — Three churches broken into sometime between Sunday evening and Monday may be tied to break-ins at six other churches, officials said.
The break-ins began in December, according to the Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office.
Also hit were Harvest Church and Rosemary Church of Christ, both on Slatestone Road, and one church in Martin County, said Capt. Kenneth L. Watson of the Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office.
The thief or thieves consistently forced entry to get inside the buildings, but the one-day trio of break-ins differed from the other crimes, which had been spread out since December, Watson said.
Watson urged anyone noticing suspicious activity at area churches to call authorities, and advised congregations to avoid leaving cash inside churches. A congregant’s house overlooks the site of the break-in at Old Ford Church of Christ, but the house was empty when the burglars struck, Cichorz said.
Also burgled since December were Alligood Church of Christ, Beaverdam Church of Christ, Asbury United Methodist Church, Athens Chapel Church of Christ and United Reform Church.
Counting the three this week, six churches in the Washington area have been robbed, one in Bath and two in Pantego, Watson said.
Watson declined to say what other items were stolen, when exactly the department thinks the break-ins occurred and how many thieves are suspected to be involved. Sheriff’s deputies are continuing to investigate.
Cutline for corresponding photo: Old Ford Church of Christ was one of four churches broken into between Sunday evening and Monday. (WDN Photo/Ted Strong)