Two People Arrested for a String of Church Break-Ins
CHARLOTTE, NC — Arrest records show Β Charlotte man has been stealing from churches for over 40 years, and investigators suspect that for his final haul, he brought in a younger woman to help.
Reverend Michael Cannon says thieves helped themselves to Trinity Reformed Presbyterian’s electronics.
“They used some tool, screwdriver, to break in here” CannonΒ explained.
Union County Sheriff’s Deputies say that was one of David Simpson and Ashley Flowers’ first hits on Christmas Eve.
“There really is no fear of God at all, so, and there is no sense of sacred,” Cannon said.
Another score was right down the road at Rocky River True Light Church. Add to that three more churches in Marshville, bringing the total to five church burglaries in four days.
“Criminals look for soft targets. So you see a small church, especially one that is not going to have quick response time by local law enforcement,” said Cannon.
Perhaps Simpson’s crime of choice. The 65-year-old’s jail records, riddled with theft charges, go back 48 years.Β He was convicted of assaulting a police officer in 2007, and deputies say he had church property on him that night, too.
This time, deputies say he included 29-year-old Ashley Flowers.
“There are so many good people in the churches and community that would help. It’s just not the thing to do. It’s just wrong,” saidΒ Debbie Hildretch, aΒ Union County resident.
Trinity’s Reverend says the burglars made off with $3,000 worth of electronics, and his sense of peace.
He told us, “You feel violated like it was your home.”
