Jefferson County investigates five church burglaries

FAIRFIELD ? Jefferson County Sheriff?s Office is investigating five burglaries and an attempted break-in at rural churches this month.

Saturday, the Fairfield Police Department received a report of another burglary, this time in Fairfield at Foursquare Gospel Church.

At the beginning of July, the sheriff?s office investigated a report of burglary, breaking and entering, through a window with no force, to Jubilee King Gathering church, 2560 Highway 34. Radios, TVs and VCRs were taken, worth $339; an Epson power lit projector valued at $469; and a purple and red iridescent goblet with a clear stem, valued at $300 were missing, for a total value of $1,180. The burglary occurred sometime between midnight July 1 and 9 a.m. July 8.

Around the Fourth of July holiday, Church of Jesus Christ Latter Day Saints, 2143 32nd St. was broken into. Damage to a window was estimated at $400. The incident was reported to have occurred between 9 p.m. July 3 and 8:30 p.m. July 5.

Since then, other rural churches that have been burglarized include Faith United Church in Libertyville and Pleasant Plain Friends Church; and an attempt was made to break into Calvary Baptist Church in Batavia.

Jefferson County Sheriff?s Lt. Jerry Marcellus said during the same timeframe, Wapello, Henry and Keokuk counties also have reported church burglaries.

?Most of these happen at night,? said Marcellus. ?Electronic items have been taken and other things.

?We?re following leads and received some tips. We remind everyone to be vigilant.?

At Foursquare Gospel Church, electronic equipment and musical instruments were taken sometime between Friday night and Saturday morning, said office manager Samantha Campbell.

?The door to the ushers? room also was broken into and several keys were taken,? she said.

The church has changed locks and is changing its policy on who will have access to keys, said Campbell.

?It?s very frustrating,? she said.

Marcellus encourages anyone with information to call the sheriff?s office at 472-4146.