Deputies outraged after more than 20 burglaries targeted the house of God. Three people, none of them more than 20-years-old, are in jail. The trio is accused of breaking into at least 26 churches. Investigators say the crimes started last month and cover Lexington, Newberry and Calhoun counties.
18-year-old Kayla Graydon, 20-year-old James Osborne and 20-year-old Burton Olvey all faced a judge Friday for the burglary charges.
"Instead of using the keys, they used a crow bar," says Pastor Dave Tholstrup.
He explained how his church was vandalized and robbed last weekend. Police say it was the second time a trio of crooks hit St. Peter's Lutheran in Chapin. They destroyed hundreds of dollars in property, and stole money from the vacation Bible school.
"They took $200 to $300 that we collected over five days," says Pastor Tholstrup.
Money isn't the only thing this church lost in the crimes. The pastor says the congregation's peace of mind was damaged.
He says, "People's innocence was robbed from them."
"It's pretty bad when a house gets broken into, but when the house of the Lord is entered and desecrated that's about as low a thing a person can do," says Newberry County Sheriff Lee Foster.
Lexington County Sheriff James Metts says, "You can't break into God's house and not get caught. You can't break into God's house and not get punished."
Metts called the three suspects pot heads, living the high life, looking for easy targets to steal some quick cash for drugs.
"They were riding around smoking marijuana, breaking into the churches high most of the time," says Metts.
"They missed out on a relationship with Christ. No amount of marijuana or money will make up for that," says Pastor Tholstrup.
He prays his sanctuary will remain a safe place to worship.
TV Station Profiles & Public Inspection Files forWACH