WILSON COUNTY, Tenn. - Five churches in Wilson County are missing expensive electronic equipment after a rash of break-ins over the weekend.
Police said thieves broke through the glass window and door at First Baptist Church in Lebanon and got away with more than $6,000 in electronics. Three other churches in the county had broken windows and missing equipment.
Police believe it is the same people behind all five burglaries.
"We believe they are connected because the same items were taken as far as electronics and the way that the churches were entered. Also the crimes happened around the same time," said Lebanon Police Chief Scotty Bowen.
At another church, Vine Baptist, thieves kicked in the door and got away with two speakers and a microphone valued at $400 dollars. On Sunday their small congregation of 25 gathered and dug deep into their pockets to replace the stolen items.
Members said it's disheartening to know someone would take something as small as a microphone from the house of God.
"I think it is low down to break into God's house and steal from him, they are not stealing from me this is God's stuff not mine," said Roy Hudson, member of Vine Baptist Church.
Police are working with deputies to recover stolen items and find the people responsible. Altogether about $12,000 worth of electronics went missing. Police said they do have some physical evidence from one of the churches and hope it is enough to lead to an arrest.
Chief Bowen said the county hasn't seen a rash of break-ins like this in over two years.
