TOLEDO, OH (WTOL) - A Toledo church is investing in bullet proof glass after thieves came in with weapons this week to steal the Sunday offerings.
The criminals hit the Epiphany Lutheran Church on North Reynolds Road sometime after midnight Monday morning.
Scott Koenig, vice president of the church council, said the thieves first broke a first floor window and then went to the office. That's where the thieves removed the door window all together.
"He taped this whole glass up and then he knocked it in," Koenig told WTOL11.
The suspects apparently had an axe since it looks like an axe was used to cut through the next door to the safe. That attempt was unsuccessful. The crooks then got away.
"Some people don't feel like they should ask, that they should decide to take it," Koenig said.
Toledo police say churches are frequently the targets of burglars due to their open door policy and Sunday offerings.
But Lt. David Schmidt tells WTOL11 that he typically doesn't see the security measure Epiphany Lutheran is now putting into place – bullet proof glass.
That's what they'll replace the temporary glass in their office door.
"We're worried about the office manager in case someone comes in with a gun," Koenig said.
He says his church has been hit twice now in the last three years. And even though motion sensors and an alarm system is in place, Koenig advises other churches to follow their lead.
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