Police say one person was responsible for up to 10 instances of churches being vandalized between January 2013 and January 2014. The churches were in between the 14100 and 15000 blocks of Memorial Drive.
Investigators say a church located on the 14100 block of Memorial Drive was vandalized on September 20, October 3 and December 12, 2013, and again on January 11, 2014. A second church located on the 14200 block of Memorial Drive was vandalized on January 23, October 22 and November 11 of 2013, with and additional incident on January 20, 2014. The final church located on the 15000 block of Memorial Drive was vandalized on January 21, 2013, and October 16, 2013.
Reverend Nora Fitch of St. Thomas Presbyterian can't explain why her church has become a target to a would-be thief four times in the span of a year. Each time, the attempted break in got a little messier, with the most recent becoming even dangerous.
Reverend Fitch says last month, the suspect threw a bottle of lighter fluid with a lit t-shirt inside their sanctuary. Luckily it came apart and only caused minimal damage.
Just 10 feet away, another church, Christ Memorial Lutheran also became a target, and also four times. Surveillance video shows the male suspect trying to break in. Although he never made it inside, church officials say his repeated attempts have cost them more than $4,000 in repair work.
Pastor Janie Morris from Emmanuel Episcopal says her church was hit twice. That's three churches less than a half mile from each other. Although they are all different denominations, they are all joining in prayer for their troubles to end.
The suspect is described as a black male between 30 and 35 years of age and is believed to drive a green 1996 Ford Taurus. If you have any information about this case, you're asked to call Crime Stoppers at 713-222-TIPS.
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