CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. (WTVF) — Clarksville police said a 78-year-old woman was robbed while she was praying inside a church.
According to the police department, the woman was in the Hilldale Baptist Church sanctuary on the evening of February 9 when she was approached by two women.
After a short conversation, one of the women asked to pray with her. Police said while they were praying, the other woman went through the victim's purse and stole her wallet.
"Our church member reaches into her purse and picks up her wallet and just thinks that feels funny, feels different, which is remarkable and so but she opens it up her cash is gone or credit cards are gone and she realizes then she's been robbed," said senior pastor Larry Robertson.
Robertson says after the police released the surveillance video other church members said they remember seeing the women the Sunday before the crime.
"It is so disappointing and shocking when it happens in a church building to a senior adult widow, lady who just came to church early to pray that's hard to swallow," Robertson said.
Police said there was a group of four women in total inside the church with the victim. Three of them were seen on security cameras at a Sam's Club where the victim's credit card was used shortly after the theft.
"My prayer is that if I had the opportunity to encounter them again, that I would be faithful to and kind enough to them to share the gospel with them in hopes that they would trust Christ as their Savior," Robertson said.
Clarksville police are asking anyone with information on who they are to call Crime Stoppers at 931-645-8477 or Detective Bradley at 931-648-0656, ext. 5159.
