The burglar targeting city churches has struck again.

Police said someone stole an undisclosed amount of cash from the Lancaster Spanish Seventh-day Adventist Church at East Clay and Plum streets sometime over the weekend.

It brings to 13 the number of city churches burglarized since mid-October, city police Sgt. Todd Umstead said today.

"It is bold and disheartening (that) someone would steal from a church at a time churches are going out of their way to help people who truly need help," he said. "We're pretty sure it's the same person doing all of this."

In addition to the break-in at the Spanish Seventh-day Adventist Church, two other church burglaries have been reported since a New Era story on the "stealthy Grinch" was published Nov. 28.

Ross Street United Methodist Church, 312 E. Ross St., was burglarized Nov. 25, Umstead said.

East Chestnut Street Mennonite Church, 434 E. Chestnut St., was struck Nov. 29.

All the burglaries were committed overnight, and access was by prying open doors or windows.

The burglar seems interested only in money, Umstead said, noting that the thief has been bypassing computers and other items.

He said police have been frustrated at the rash of burglaries, but detectives  are investigating some leads.

"There has been some evidence collected," he said.

Umstead said some businesses also may have been targeted by the same burglar or burglars.

He urged churches and businesses to remain vigilant.

Anyone noticing anything suspicious inside or outside a church is asked to contact police immediately at 735-3300.

Police in the county also reported the following incidents:

• East Hempfield Township Police charged Benjamin Howard, 36, of Harrisburg with an early Sunday morning robbery of the Turkey Hill store at 1503 Columbia Ave.

Police said Howard displayed a knife and took cash from the store.

Manor Township Police spotted the suspect's vehicle and stopped it with the help of city police.

Howard was arraigned before federal magistrate Judge Thomas Rueter, who remanded him to Lancaster County Prison with bail set at $25,000. 

• Lititz Borough Police have charged two Lititz men with burglary-related charges as a result of a surveillance operation inside the General Sutter Inn, 14 E. Main St., Lititz.

Shortly after 1 a.m. Sunday, police said they caught Dennis Perry, 20, and Jack Jenkins, 22, attempting to steal bottles of alcohol from the bar area.

Both men were arraigned by district Judge David Miller and sent to county prison with bail set at $25,000.


Staff writer Ryan Robinson can be reached at rrobinson@LNPnews.com or 481-6032.