In the small, quiet town of Blountsville, about 175 people sat in the pews of Fowler Springs Baptist Church in Friendship Baptist Association Jan. 8 unaware that just outside the church doors someone was breaking into their cars and stealing money and personal belongings.
When the morning service concluded, the congregation discovered smashed windows, missing purses and approximately $600 taken from several cars in the parking lot. One church member lost about $450 and her entire purse during the thefts.
“I feel bad for the people that got their money taken,” said Pastor Michael Murphree, who was told by local police that the money was probably taken to buy drugs. “It used to be that churches were off-limits. Nowadays nothing is sacred.”
Although the church building had suffered two break-ins over the past six months, many members never locked their vehicle doors while on church property.
Some members even felt safe enough to leave purses and bags in their cars in plain sight, as was the case with two of the victims.
“It’s completely unbelievable to think someone would do something like this during church service on Sunday morning,” said Ronda Posey, who lost nearly $90.
“I am cautious everywhere else I go, but church is the last place you think something will happen. You know and trust everyone there,” she said.
Unfortunately events like these are not uncommon. Last year, leaders of Crestway Baptist Church, Birmingham, in Birmingham Baptist Association told The Alabama Baptist that one of their elderly members had been robbed at gunpoint in the parking lot before Sunday School a year earlier.
“He took her purse and then pushed her down and she broke her hip,” said Jim Dixon, Crestway’s minister of education and administration.
“After that, we implemented a security team of volunteers who patrol outside the church during times when people are present at church,” he added.
Jim Swedenburg, coordinator of annuity and insurance services at the Alabama Baptist State Board of Missions (SBOM), said that burglary and break-ins are the most common theft problems for churches and it happens everywhere. “There’s no distinguishing pattern between large, small, urban or rural churches or denominational affiliation regarding theft,” he said. “If a church hasn’t been hit, there’s a good chance it will be. Few have been spared.”
He added, “The days when people respected a church just because it’s a church are gone. People will steal anything from anybody.”
To help deter these incidents, the SBOM encourages churches to implement purposeful security plans and establish volunteer teams to increase safety on their properties.
According to Swedenburg, this can be done by setting priorities to protect the lives and general safety of members and guests as well as church and member property.
He also advises churches to consult an expert, assess risks during church activities, address church lockup procedures and reassess the hours that the building is open to the public.
Swedenburg noted that locks, lights and security hardware are three of the top interior and exterior safety weaknesses in churches.
“The best thing for a church to do to reduce crime is to spend money on good lighting and locks,” he said. “The lighting should cover every angle of the property. This type of lighting really isn’t that expensive anymore.”
“The industry standard is that the lighting around the outside of the church building should be bright enough to be able to read a newspaper by,” said Skip Roberts, vice president of marketing at Byars & Associates Inc. in Jasper, who serves as a representative of insurance agencies to churches.
Swedenburg also said churches should get rid of hollow-core doors, opting instead for solid-wood or metal-clad ones that are harder to break down.
“Churches also need to have perimeter control and decide who gets to come inside,” he said. “A lot of times, one staff member is left alone to deal with whatever comes, and this is another big issue.”
Swedenburg added, “Police say that most criminals have already cased the church to see what things are like.”
To avoid becoming a victim of crime, church members and attendees should also consider safety a priority, according to Jefferson County Sheriff Mike Hale. He offered the following tips:
- Never leave anything in a vehicle in plain view such as a purse, cell phone, CD, gifts, etc. Put all items out of sight and lock the doors.
- Park in well-lit areas.
- Consider investing in alarm systems for your vehicle.
- Use the buddy system. There really is strength in numbers.
- Women, children and seniors should especially be cautious. Criminals prey on them.
- Notify local law enforcement if you see anything even remotely suspicious.
“These few tips can help prevent your becoming a crime victim, are time tested and can be applied to many of your activities,” Hale said. “Always, always be aware of what is going on around you, and never compromise your safety or that of your loved ones.” (Lauren Brooks contributed)
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