REGION Police probe rash of church break-ins

The motive is money, but not a lot of cash is kept on hand at churches, a detective said.
BROOKFIELD -- Police agencies in 12 jurisdictions in Ohio and Pennsylvania are working together to solve 22 church break-ins over a monthlong period.
"We believe that they are related, based on the methods of entry, what's taken and damage inside the buildings," said Brookfield police Detective Pete Gibb. He noted that whoever is behind the crimes has rooted through cabinets and closets.
Earlier this week a strategy session was held in the township. It involved police agencies in Brookfield, Hubbard Township, Liberty, Vienna, Hartford and the Trumbull County Sheriff's Department, Sharon, Sharpsville, Hermitage, Southwest Mercer County Regional Police and South Pymatuning Township. Also working on the case are Pennsylvania State Police.
Elsewhere
Authorities also recently learned of a case in Coitsville, Gibb noted. There have been two cases in Brookfield and he's working with Hartford, which has had three.
"In the course of our investigation we determined that there were all of these other jurisdictions that had them," he explained.
"We believe the motive is money because they're not touching computers and VCRs, etc.," Gibb said. "Most of these churches have very small amounts of money on the premises."
The police agencies are encouraging people living near churches in their communities to be vigilant about suspicious activity, such as seeing someone going in or out at an odd hour.
Also, the police agencies are doing more spot checks of churches during their patrols, Gibb noted.