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Honolulu Advertiser Local News
Purse thieves strike during Honolulu church services
http://www.honoluluadvertiser.com/ap...=2007705040377
Purse thieves strike during Honolulu church services
http://www.honoluluadvertiser.com/ap...=2007705040377
Churchgoers are being warned to keep an eye on their valuables after a recent rare spate of thefts during Sunday and funeral services in at least eight Honolulu churches.
Police say the cases are likely linked, because the crimes are so similar.
In several cases, parishioners found their bags missing after returning to their pews from taking communion. In other instances, purses went missing from classrooms or common rooms just before or during services.
And police said the crimes don't stop there: Some of those whose purses were stolen became victims of identify theft. And in at least one case, a woman changed the locks to her home because she saw someone staking it out.
Church administrators and police say it is rare — almost unheard of — to see even one theft during a church service.
More common, though still rare, are break-ins at churches and parochial schools, said District 7 burglary and theft detective Steve Forman, who is investigating the church incidents.
"I have never encountered cases where somebody is actually attending a church service or a church funeral and stealing from people," Forman said. "Church burglaries that happen in the course of the night are very few. But as far as thefts occurring in the service, those are completely rare."
He added, "Most criminals will stay away from churches. It's sort of taboo."
Police say the cases are likely linked, because the crimes are so similar.
In several cases, parishioners found their bags missing after returning to their pews from taking communion. In other instances, purses went missing from classrooms or common rooms just before or during services.
And police said the crimes don't stop there: Some of those whose purses were stolen became victims of identify theft. And in at least one case, a woman changed the locks to her home because she saw someone staking it out.
Church administrators and police say it is rare — almost unheard of — to see even one theft during a church service.
More common, though still rare, are break-ins at churches and parochial schools, said District 7 burglary and theft detective Steve Forman, who is investigating the church incidents.
"I have never encountered cases where somebody is actually attending a church service or a church funeral and stealing from people," Forman said. "Church burglaries that happen in the course of the night are very few. But as far as thefts occurring in the service, those are completely rare."
He added, "Most criminals will stay away from churches. It's sort of taboo."
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