NORTH CAROLINA COMPUTER STOLEN FROM CHURCHWWAY NewsChannel 3, Wilmington, NC: Items stolen from local churchA local church is trying to put itself back together tonight after a robber broke in and stole from them.

Police say they see an increase in robberies this time of year, but this heartless crime shows criminals will even take from places considered holy.

The holiday season is a time when many people open up their hearts and wallets to give to the needy. But this year a local house of worship is experiencing just the opposite: robbers stealing what isn't theirs.

Church administrator Chris Smith couldn't believe his eyes Thursday morning. The stolen items included a television, VCR, DVD player -- and the worst was a computer with the priest's sermons saved on it.

"For us to have to stop and deal with all of this -- it's just put us in a terrible situation. We're heartbroken," Smith said.

The bigger issue Chris says is if the criminal needed cash that badly, the church might have given it to them in the first place.

"If the people needed money or needed help we could help them with that. So it kind of hurts us because that's the community we reach out to," Smith said.

Wilmington police lt. Marshall Williamson says the department sees an increase in break-ins and robberies during the holiday season.

Lt. Marshall Williamson of the Wilmington Police Department said, "We do tend to see a rise in robberies from individuals and also break-ins at or in shopping areas."

Williamson is stressing the importance of security measures at all businesses. Things like alarms and surveillance videos.

"A good deterrent for criminals. They don't like to go to places that have alarms."
Those measures are important for you at home too.