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Two area churches burglarized
David Stegon Potomac News Tuesday, February 8, 2005
At least seven area churches have been burglarized after two more were hit this past weekend, Prince William police said.
Seventh-day Adventist in Lake Ridge and the Mount Olive Baptist Church in Lake Ridge were both burglarized, said Detective Dennis Mangan, police spokesman.
In each incident, as in the others reported, burglars broke into the church, but did not steal anything, police said.
"They came in through a front door and then went through the church," said Rick Jordan, Pastor at Seventh-day Adventist, which was burglarized between 5 p.m. Friday and 1 p.m. Saturday. "They broke doors throughout the building, but never took anything."
The burglars also went through Jordan's office, passing computers and audio visual equipment, looking for something, but Jordan doesn't know what.
"I guess they were looking for money, but we don't have any in the church," Jordan said. "I have no idea why they were in there."
A similar situation occurred at Mount Olive on Telegraph Road between 9 p.m. Friday and 8:55 a.m. Saturday.
Burglars entered through a bathroom window and then went though the building, breaking office doors, but never taking anything.
Burglars also tried to break into a Jehovah's Witness church, which is being built near Seventh-day Adventist, Jordan said. They reported a door handle being broken off the church's front door.
The two incidents are the latest in a string in the Woodbridge, Lake Ridge and Dale City areas the past month.
In each incident burglars break through a window or a door and then go through the building. Rarely, though, do they take anything.
Twice laptops were reported stolen, but otherwise nothing is taken.
"It's weird that nothing is taken," Mangan said. "We have no idea what these guys are looking for, but we're doing the best we can to try to find them."
Police believe them to be connected and are looking for patterns to catch the burglars.
On Jan. 26, burglars broke into the First Church of Christ Scientist on York Drive in Woodbridge and on Jan. 24, caused almost $3,000 in damage to Christ Our Lord Church on Omisol Road in Lake Ridge.
Similar incidents were reported early last month at Bethel United Methodist Church on Minnieville Road in Lake Ridge, Hillendale Baptist Church on Hillendale Drive in Dale City and the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints on Old Bridge Road in Lake Ridge.
All the churches are within a few miles of each other.
Police ask that anyone with information call Crime Solvers at (703) 670-3700. Callers do not have to give their names or testify in court and may receive a reward of up to $1,000 for information that results in an arrest.
Staff writer David Stegon can be reached at (703) 878-8065.