The Sunday Mail
Wendy Gwata Religion Writer
CHURCHES have become the latest target for thieves who have set their eyes on the cash that is collected for tithes and offerings mainly during Sunday services.
Hard cash is usually handled at churches since huge numbers of congregants give offerings in cash.
Unfortunately, there is lax security measures in some of the denominations.
Personal valuables are also being stolen during church services.
Churches such as Anglican, Zaoga and Methodist Church in Zimbabwe have huge followings and have fallen victim to these thieves who steal either during services or at night.
A priest at Roman Catholic’s St Francis of Assisi Parish in Waterfalls suburb, Reverend Shepherd Munzara, said thieves have frequented their assembly in the past two years to steal cash and personal items, even during services.
Rev Munzara said the suspected thieves were operating as a group and have become desperate to the extent of making away with water taps if there was nothing valuable to steal.
He said the thieves have been mainly targeting cell phones, Ipads and handbags; which are normally left unattended when congregants are worshipping.
“When congregants are worshipping or they have gone to place their offering on the altar, that is when these valuable items are picked up. Some of the thieves are operating in groups such that they pass the loot discreetly to the exit points of the church buildings before victims or security personnel in the church realise what is going on,” he said.
“On February 5, these thieves pounced at the parish building. Seeing that they could not walk away empty handed, they stole hot water taps.
“On the 23rd of October last year, they also stole cistern levers in the men’s toilet.
“However the most significant break-in was on November 3 in 2015 when goods worth $834,38 were stolen. These included groceries meant for the less privileged, altar wine, a laptop and cell phones,” Rev Munzara said.
A source privy to the Zaoga Assembly in Waterfalls highlighted that last year, $6 500 was stolen at the church premises while an official from the Methodist Church in Zimbabwe who preferred to remain anonymous said there had been a series of thefts taking place during services.
“There was lady who was frequenting our church stealing handbags. She would identify a victim who appeared to be of a well to do background based on their dressing and sit next to them.
“She would then rub some dirt on them, pretending it was a mistake. When the congregant went to the toilet to clean themselves up, she would get the handbag and disappear. At our assembly the suspect walked away with $1 000,” the official said.
However the thief is said to have been apprehended at the church’s assembly in Cranborne.
As the cash crunch continues, churches remain a major target due to the frequent flow of cash and Rev Munzara highlighted that it was unheard of for people to pounce on money offered to the house of God.
“I feel sorry for these thieves because God’s wrath and curse will befall upon them unless they repent. In as much as I would forgive them I sincerely pray that one day the perpetrators will be brought to book and bear the conveniences of their actions,” he said.
He however said they had beefed up security measures to deal with such devious acts.The 29-year-old is said to have performed a number of miracles, with some of them coming under scrutiny.
