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Suspects still on the run after Calvary Baptist employees prevent potential theft, getaway U-Haul found in Orange

Sgt. Tom Swope with the Beaumont Police Department says employees followed the U-Haul towards Orange County, but ended up losing sight of it.

BEAUMONT, Texas — Suspects are still on the run after employees of Calvary Baptist Church in Beaumont prevented a potential theft Thursday morning.

Around 8:40 a.m., church employees arrived at work and saw a U-Haul parked by their back storage house.

When the employee tried to get a closer look, the truck sped off. 

Sgt. Tom Swope with the Beaumont Police Department says employees followed the U-Haul towards Orange County, but ended up losing sight of it.

They returned to check their trailers at the church and something seemed off. 

"It looks like they attempted to get one of them to get into one of the trailers and take some items out of the trailer," Swope said. 

Minister of Missions and Business Administration Clay Jones said the group of people attempted to steal one of their trailers used for disaster relief, which the church does through an organization called Southern Baptists of Texas Disaster Relief.

Jones tells 12News Calvary Baptist Church has been hit at least four times by burglars in the past few years.

"We're lucky that that nobody was hurt in this situation, nothing was taken in this situation. We we are happy that the U-Haul was found and Orange County is gonna assist and take it from there," said Swope. 

Swope says these type of stand-alone storage sheds are a common target because a lot of tools and other items are kept in there. 

"So, you know, it is, I guess you could say kind of an easy target for some people to pull up back behind there in that parking lot and try to attempt to get into those buildings," Swope said. 

Even though the employee's actions stopped the potential thieves in their tracks, Swope says it's always important to practice safety and avoid any confrontations.

Beaumont Police completed a burglary report.

The worst burglary they've ever had was one in which all of the chainsaws and other equipment used for relief work was taken, according to Jones.

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This is a developing story. We will update with more if and when we receive more confirmed information 

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