Overview
- Officers documented roughly 20 vehicles with shattered windows at St. Stephen Catholic Church, with items taken from six cars, and at least nine more damaged at The Open Door Missionary Baptist Church, with similar reports at the House of God Church.
- Investigators are interviewing witnesses and reviewing evidence to identify suspects, with Cleveland’s Street Task and Nuisance Crime Enforcement unit assisting the case.
- The break-ins are part of a broader monthlong pattern that has damaged about 60 cars outside Cleveland churches, according to police and church leaders.
- The Open Door Missionary Baptist Church plans to hire security and install additional surveillance for Sunday services after congregants, many of them seniors, expressed concern.
- The Catholic Diocese of Cleveland says city parishes are increasing vigilance over parking lots during Masses and reminding parishioners not to leave valuables in view.