Sunday morning sting: Man accused of stealing during worship

TV station WFMZ in Philadelphia reports:

(Photo via www.wfmz.com)

A police sting operation has led to the arrest of a man accused of stealing from a church during Sunday services.
James Dickson Jr. was taken into custody on Sunday at the Shillington Church of Christ (in Reading, Pa.).
Detectives had been investigating a report of an unidentified man entering the church’s office area after services had begun on three previous Sundays, said police. …
The detectives staged a purse containing a wallet and cash on a table inside a lounge in the church’s office on Sunday morning (Jan. 8) and monitored the area on the church’s video security system.
Police said Dickson entered the church, walked to the lounge, saw the purse, took the wallet containing cash, and left.

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• Feedback
  What a wonderful opportunity: Jesus would have loved that man: he loves the Lord so much he comes to steal from the household of faith;
  I think he should have been spoken to by the Leaders and also given a chance to hear the Gospel and repent: before being handed over to the Police to be made accountable for his actions.

  mark kenny

  January, 10 2012

  Greeting,s brothers and sisters of the great body of Christ in this world may the body of Christ pray for this individual and that he will make restitution of his wrong doing knowing full well that he is responsible for his action and that the elder,s of Shillington Church Of Christ will help this individual both physically and spiritually for growth to and for the LORD. John 3:16 your brother in the LORD, Carlisle Church of Christ WBS we all sin do we not ,judge not but show LOVE and gain a brother or sister to the LORD.

  William B Sharar Jr

  January, 11 2012

  Amen! To both of these comments!

  David

  January, 11 2012

  I agree that the man should have been given a chance to repent and become a Christian before being handed over to the police. Evidently the church did not know him since he was an unidentified man. The money is a small matter when it comes to this man losing his soul over stealing. However, how many times do we set up weak members or non members to fail—like during gospel meetings we let the visiting preacher sell his books or recordings, and put a cup in the foyer for money to be put it. $10’s and $20’s stick out of the cup and a weak brother sees it. Only to have the elders to get up the next night and state that someone ‘misplaced’ the cup and if anyone knows where it is, please return it. Or an office door left open and unlocked, where money is kept. Let’s not set up our own brethren or non members for failure by leaving money or valuables out; or areas of the building unsecure.

  Gary Hatmaker

  January, 18 2012

  These comments sound like the same old Political Correct bable. It true we must try to reach criminals. But this man was not interested in anything from the church but saw it only as a chance to get a few free dollars and was counting on the church turning the other cheek. Its no different than when Jesus was here they only wanted the loaves and fishes but when Jesus started talking about discipleship they turned away. Our church deals with it every day and the people keep coming back for more and more handouts. We are glad to give them all the help we can, we only wish they would let us share the good news with them but most are not the least interested. These people must realize somewhere along the way that they are the losers.

  Ray

  February, 6 2012