PORT ARTHUR, Texas — Port Arthur investigators say thieves are targeting churches.
Police believe it's a group of people working together during church services.
This string of burglaries has sent shock waves through the religious community in Port Arthur.
Port Arthur Police said it’s a team of people hitting up churches during services.
It happened at the Queen of Vietnam Church on 9th Avenue, according to police.
Even in a time of prayer, you might not want to let your guard down.
Investigators didn't go into detail spelling out how thieves are getting away with the cash or how many churches have been affected.
All they've revealed is that it's a group of people working together, and it's happening during worship.
The crimes have the religious community concerned.
“It's kind of disturbing that you have individuals that decide that they want to come in and rob the church,” said Phillip Cole, a church elder at Sabbath Ministries. “People have the misconception that churches have a whole lot of money. Of course, we are going to pay our tithes and offerings, especially with a small ministry like ours, we don't have money flowing like that.”
Pastor Jack Chatman is worried, too. He wants to protect his fellow religious family.
“As me being the primary leader over a flock, I don’t want anything to happen to anybody on my watch. So, we have to do what we have to do to keep people protected,” Chatman said.
Chatman has his own word of warning tonight.
“Know that having weapons isn't totally off the table because it's biblical to protect themselves and their land. So if we have to revert to that we will,” Chatman said.
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