News 12 @ 6 o'clock -- December 3, 2009

SALLEY, SC --- Aiken County church members say it's been a tough few last days because they've been cleaning up their sanctuaries after burglaries.

Broken window panes, shattered glass and putting those pieces back together is becoming an all to familiar scene for the members of Smyrna Baptist in Salley.

"We're trying to figure it out, having so many break-ins,"said member Rosmond McCreary.

Investigators say Smyrna baptist church has been hit with a break-in three times in the last few months. Each time the burglars got away but this time with only a cake. But it still leaves church members picking up the pieces.

"I just wonder why do they do it? What are they looking for? They stole everything out the church...what they come back for? It costs us a lot of time and money. I can't understand that part," said member Edward Stroman.

"It's really frustrating. Every time we try to get something, somebody breaks in and take it all. It just makes you sick," said McCreary.

But Smyrna's not the only victim this time. Four other churches in Wagener and Salley were also hit.

"When you think about people breaking into God's house just to steal something,it's just frustrating," said McCreary.

Investigators say someone threw two bricks through a window at Jerusalem Branch Baptist Church. The suspects got away with everything from a camera to a computer. At Rosa Hill Baptist, investigators believe someone tried to torch the church. And now as the Smyrna church family starts to clean up the mess again, they say they hope someone can help protect their home.

"We're all trying to figure out what's going on but no one can get a handle on it so we just hope the sheriff's office can do something soon," said McCreary.

In three of the break-ins, the burglars busted out the windows to get inside. In the other two they kicked in the doors.

Most of the churches sit pretty far off the road with no homes around and that's a reason members say they feel targeted.
Right now Aiken County investigators say they do not have any suspects and they don't know if the incidents are connected. But if you have any info, please call the sheriff's office.