Bulloch County Sheriff's investigators are teaming up with officers from other counties to solve a rash of church burglaries in Southeast Georgia. Three area churches were victimized recently, said Bulloch County Sheriff's Chief Deputy Gene McDaniel.
One church hit particularly hard was Lawrence Baptist Church. On the heels of a devastating fire over the summer that destroyed the historic church's sanctuary, someone forced their way into the church's remaining fellowship hall and stole several thousand dollars' worth of items, said deacon Johnny Robert Joyner.
"We found it last Saturday," he said. "It's bad when you've got people who will steal from a church."
The thieves took am antique walnut table with a large mirror and multi-wood inlay; a water cooler; two Masters Collection paintings that had been donated by a church member; a copier and other assorted items, according to a sheriff's incident report.
But the offenders "walked right by a sound system" the church had borrowed from someone else, Joyner said. "They didn't touch it."
Upper Black Creek Primitive Baptist Church was also burglarized sometime the week before Christmas, according to reports.
A man said four decorative plates, a plate holder, a coat rack, wall pictures and four bronze lamps were taken.
St. Paul's Baptist Church in Register was also burglarized, said Bulloch County Sheriff's Chief Investigator Capt. Todd Hutchens.
The burglaries may be connected to a series of church burglaries in Jenkins, Emanuel, Candler, Tattnall, Toombs and Bryan counties, he said.
"We encourage churches to lock doors and have representatives check on their church daily," he said.
Anyone with information regarding the church burglaries is asked to contact the Bulloch County Sheriff's Department at 764-8888.
One church hit particularly hard was Lawrence Baptist Church. On the heels of a devastating fire over the summer that destroyed the historic church's sanctuary, someone forced their way into the church's remaining fellowship hall and stole several thousand dollars' worth of items, said deacon Johnny Robert Joyner.
"We found it last Saturday," he said. "It's bad when you've got people who will steal from a church."
The thieves took am antique walnut table with a large mirror and multi-wood inlay; a water cooler; two Masters Collection paintings that had been donated by a church member; a copier and other assorted items, according to a sheriff's incident report.
But the offenders "walked right by a sound system" the church had borrowed from someone else, Joyner said. "They didn't touch it."
Upper Black Creek Primitive Baptist Church was also burglarized sometime the week before Christmas, according to reports.
A man said four decorative plates, a plate holder, a coat rack, wall pictures and four bronze lamps were taken.
St. Paul's Baptist Church in Register was also burglarized, said Bulloch County Sheriff's Chief Investigator Capt. Todd Hutchens.
The burglaries may be connected to a series of church burglaries in Jenkins, Emanuel, Candler, Tattnall, Toombs and Bryan counties, he said.
"We encourage churches to lock doors and have representatives check on their church daily," he said.
Anyone with information regarding the church burglaries is asked to contact the Bulloch County Sheriff's Department at 764-8888.