Church break-ins, thefts on the rise in 2020

The RCMP says criminals have been targeting churches across the province in 2020.

In a media release Wednesday, the RCMP’s crime prevention/crime reduction unit indicates that a pattern has emerged showing a 60 per cent increase in church break-ins so far this year, resulting in thefts from 55 institutions.

The Mounties say in most cases the church doors are forced open during the night. Thieves have stolen money, electronics, computers, guitars, safes, freezers, and refrigerators.

“Even though the break-ins mostly happened in the Central District and during the summer, this new criminal trend is noticeable because these break-ins happened all year and across Saskatchewan,” notes Monca Deters, the crime analyst who discovered the extent of the trend. “It is imperative that we all get involved to better secure these buildings.“

The release stresses that all denominations are being targeted, and there’s no indication of the thieves being motivated by hate, racism, or ideology. A majority of the churches, 43, have been located in the central part of the province. That represents a 173 per cent increase in break-ins year over year, according to the RCMP.

They’re asking people across the province to keep an eye out for suspicious activity around churches, and report it to local police or RCMP. The Mounties are also offering to talk to church representatives about how to make their buildings more secure.