Thieves target three local churches
TERESA MULLINS / Staff Writer
A weekend crime spree in the county included robberies at three churches, vandalism of a vehicle and attempted break-ins of two county businesses.
According to Scott Stanley, Special Investigator with the Dickenson County Sheriff’s Department, the crimes all occurred Friday or Saturday nights. Police believe all the crimes are linked.
Although no arrests have been made in the case, Stanley said fingerprints and other evidence were collected at all the crime scenes. Police believe more than one person is involved in the crimes.
At Walnut Grove Holiness Church on Backbone Ridge near Haysi, perpetrators gained access to the church through a window and stole a sound system, speakers, microphones and guitars, with an accumulated value of $1,800-$2,500. The robbery was discovered Saturday and believed to have occurred Friday night.
Breaks Church of Christ was also victimized. A sound system, microphones, microphone stands, speakers and speaker cable was taken Friday or Saturday night. The thieves gained access to the church by forcing their way through a basement door, Stanley said. The estimated value of items stolen from that church is around $2,200.
The thieves also broke into the fellowship hall of Bartlick Old Regular Baptist Church, cutting the electrical wiring and taking it from the building. The double doors of the fellowship hall were kicked in by the perpetrators. The wiring theft is thought to have occurred Friday or Saturday night, Stanley said. An estimated value of the property stolen from that church has not been determined.
The crime spree didn’t end with the three churches, however. Stanley reported that a car parked at Midway Chevron on Route 80 was vandalized Saturday night. The windshield of the car was kicked in, he said.
In addition, an employee opening JDM Deli at Sandlick on Sunday morning called police to report damage to the store’s front door that had occurred sometime Saturday night. Someone had attempted to kick in the door but failed to gain access to the building.
Also, door glass at Hair Works, a beauty shop located near JDM Deli, was broken out in a failed attempt to enter that business, Stanley said.
Stanley urges anyone with information regarding these crimes to contact the Dickenson County Sheriff’s Department at (276) 926-1600.
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