Suffolk, Va. - Suffolk Pastor Willie Royster believes a member of his congregation broke into his office and snatched several envelopes filled with cash.
“From a human standpoint, it hurts you,” Royster says. “It hurts."
It happened sometime this week while Royster was out of town. A deacon at his church, the Love Christian Center, called police after noticing the break-in.
"At least under $200,” Royster says. “It wasn't thousands and thousands of dollars but you don't want to lose a dollar."
The more expensive items like TV and electronics weren't touched. Whoever did this, Royster says, had access to get inside and knew what they were looking for.
"It wasn't just hurting me,” he says. “It was taking what belongs to God, which we are supporting God's people."
The pastor says the thief had a key and knew the alarm code to get in, but because his office is secured shut, they had to break through a steel door to take the cash.
"It had to be somebody real heavy and tall that came through,” Royster says. “We just don't know how that person got a key to come in. We just don't know."
New cameras were installed and locks were replaced. Pastor Royster says his only choice is to beef up security. As for the thief, he says their punishment will come in due time.
"You reap what you sow,” he says. “You can't get by with doing wrong."
If you have any information for police, you can take action against crime and call the CrimeLine at 1-888-LOCK-U-UP.
