Sheriff: Church burglaries on rise

WINNSBORO – A recent rash of burglaries in vehicles parked in church parking lots during worship services has prompted Fairfield County Sheriff Will Montgomery to issue an advisory encouraging citizens and church members to be vigilant for suspicious activity on church properties in the county.

Someone burglarized a vehicle at a church in the Jenkinsville community on Sunday, March 10, stealing money and a pocketbook containing bank cards, the Sheriff’s office reported. The subject used the bank cards a short time later at the Dollar General in the Blair area.

Similar thefts also occurred in Lancaster County that same morning and are believed to have been committed by the same person, the Sheriff said. Surveillance cameras captured images of the suspect and his vehicle, believed to be a dark, possibly blue, Chevrolet Impala.

Catalytic converters (exhaust system parts) have also been taken from church vans/buses parked at several churches in Fairfield County in the past few weeks.

Sheriff Montgomery said he does not know if the suspect is involved with these thefts.

“We encourage everyone to be extra vigilant for suspicious activity at area churches and to contact the Fairfield County Sheriff’s Office at 803-635-4141 if any suspicious activity is observed,” Montgomery said. “We also ask that anyone who recognizes the individual, or vehicle to contact us.”