Easter Thieves Stole $50K From Mich. Churches

April 2, 2013
Across the region, dozens of churches, many without security systems, have become targets of thieves in recent months.

April 02--Parishioners flocked to services on Easter and generously gave money to two local churches -- only to have their donations stolen overnight by thieves, crimes that police called sophisticated and well-planned.

The burglaries at St. Therese of Lisieux Catholic Church in Shelby Township and St. Luke Lutheran Church in Clinton Township shed light on the issues of security at churches. Across the region, dozens of churches, many without security systems, have become targets of thieves in recent months.

It's estimated that more than $40,000 and two chalices, worth between $5,000 and $10,000, were stolen from St. Therese of Lisieux and an unknown amount of money was taken from St. Luke, church and police officials said.

Police said they believe the two burglaries are connected.

"It's very sad and it's very discouraging," Pastor Bert Thompson of St. Luke said Monday.

A Clinton Township police official could not be reached for comment.

Shelby Township Police Chief Roland Woelkers said the burglary at St. Therese of Lisieux was "sophisticated." He said the thief or thieves used special tools to cut into a safe room sometime between 10 p.m. Sunday and Monday morning, when the theft was discovered.

Linda Maccarone, the church's administrative manager, said the thief or thieves broke a glass side door to get into the church, which does not have a security system. She said a maintenance person discovered the break-in at about 6 a.m. Monday.

"We're looking at probably a professional crew," Woelkers said.

Maccarone said most of the money taken from the safe had been collected during Easter services. The donations would have gone toward church operating expenses, as well as charities, she said.

Maccarone said some may question who would steal from a church.

"But there are people out there with no conscience whatsoever and they don't seem to have a problem with that," she said. "I think that's the sad state of our society."

In December, law enforcement officials announced that, over a period of a few months, burglars had struck more than 40 churches across Lenawee, Monroe, Washtenaw, Hillsdale, Livingston and Genesee counties and in Fulton County, Ohio, near the Michigan border.

Police said they believe those thefts were connected, with the burglars prying their way into mostly rural churches -- many without security systems -- and ransacking offices, occasionally coming up empty and sometimes stealing cash.

Despite video surveillance images of two suspects, no arrests have been made, Lenawee County Detective Gary Ward said.

But since law enforcement issued a news release in December on the thefts, he said, the break-ins appear to have ceased.

"Whatever we've done, they've stopped," Ward said.

Law enforcement officials said they encourage churches to install security systems as a safeguard to thefts.

Maccarone said the church considering installing a security system after a church in Utica was broken into. Utica Police Deputy Chief Sean Coady said a Catholic church in Utica was burglarized a few weeks ago, but provided few details, including what was stolen.

Woelkers said police don't believe the Utica break-in is connected to the thefts at the churches in Shelby and Clinton townships.

Coady said some type of security system, be it surveillance cameras, alarms or lighting, is imperative.

Thompson said St. Luke does have an alarm, but the break-in was discovered Monday morning by a maintenance worker. He said the church is now looking into what happened with the security system.

"It's an alarm system that we thought was very good," Thompson said.

Thompson said the Easter service donations were stolen, but the amount is unclear.

Ironically, church officials said, if someone were in need, they would help.

"If anyone really needs something, we would be there to help them," Maccarone said. "You don't have to steal from us."

Contact Gina Damron: 313-223-4526 or [email protected]

Copyright 2013 - Detroit Free Press

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