Churches are often “soft targets.” Many churches were built in an era when trust for people was taken for granted, so alarms and surveillance technology are not in use. After all, who wants to go to church if it feels like Fort Knox? The key to a good church security program is that the congregation doesn’t even know you have a church security team. No – not secret squirrels running around and talking into their blazer sleeves – but very helpful, friendly people who just happen to know how to spot trouble.
In our city, we had a man/woman team targeting churches during Wednesday evening services. The couple would come into the church, sit down for the prayer meeting, and then the male half would get up and head for the restroom. While the people were worshipping, the man would pilfer purses, jacket pockets, and leave electronic equipment behind the church without anyone knowing any better.
Additionally, this couple asked for and received food, money, and assistance from the church while they were being robbed blind. Many in the church wouldn’t want to confront or challenge anyone who appears to be suspicious, but if there is someone new to the church who is off in a location by themselves, it would be a good idea to challenge this person or at least ask if they need assistance.
If you are not into confrontation, standing by them and asking them questions about themselves may disrupt the theft in progress and cause them to feel uncomfortable. A good rule of thumb is that if you have a suspicious feeling about something (called intuition) then there is probably something going on.
If you are threatened by someone, and it is safe to do so, create distance and communicate by radio for a police response. If you don’t have a radio, then leave the area and call the police yourself. Attempt to keep an eye on the person until the police arrive.
