One man is a priest at St. Mary's church on West Fuqua near Chimney Rock in southwest Houston, and the other is a visiting priest. They were both staying on the property overnight Thursday in advance of a weekend retreat planned at the location.
At St Mary's church, the normally peaceful sanctuary became a crime scene while church leaders stayed locked in an office, early Friday morning watching the criminals move throughout the building from surveillance cameras. The break-in woke the church leader and a visiting priest staying on the property.
Mathew Meladath with St. Mary's church said, "The other priest wanted to open the door and I told him, 'No, we shouldn't open the door.'"
At least two burglars took two music keyboards, two microphones, a TV and an iPad. Surveillance video shows how the crooks got in the back of the building, then clearly moved through the hallway to kick in another door. All the while, the church leaders were in the office just across the hallway, waiting for police.
"I've been here for the last 10 months," Meladath said. "Things happen. I'm scared."
The retreat will go on as scheduled this weekend.
Anyone with information on the burglary is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 713-222-TIPS.
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