Burglars stole property from five rural Rutherford County churches and sheriff’s investigators need citizens’ help in solving the cases, detectives said.

The break-ins occurred the nights and early mornings of April 20 and May 8 at churches in Walter Hill and on Manson Pike, said Detectives Jim Tramel and Jamin Humphress.

Detective Capt. Larry Pace said the burglaries may be related to other break-ins at churches in surrounding counties.

Humphress said citizens can help by calling the sheriff’s office immediately at 898-7770 if they observe suspicious activities outside rural churches especially in the early morning hours.

“We need citizens to be vigilant,” Humphress said. “We’re in hopes this will generate leads so we can apprehend these burglars.”

Two of the churches had operational burglar alarms. Tramel asked churches that do have burglar alarms installed to use the devices.

“Make sure video cameras are operating,” Tramel said. “We’re putting extra patrols on these county churches.” 

Citizens who have information on the burglaries should call Tramel at 904-3055 or Humphress at 904-3054.