Name: Wave of car break-ins hits Raleigh churches: $2,000 and handgun stolen
Uploaded: 2025-07-16T22:13:09+00:00
Duration: 2 min 38 s
Description: Some 31 vehicles were broken into at five Raleigh churches this past weekend, with surveillance footage from one showing a smash-and-grab incident where a handgun and $2,000 cash were stolen.

Some 31 vehicles were broken into at five Raleigh churches this past weekend, with surveillance footage from one showing a smash-and-grab incident where a handgun and $2,000 cash were stolen.

More than 30 vehicles were broken into during services at at least five places of worship this weekend.

Raleigh police confirmed four of the locations and Father Patrick Keane at Our Lady of Lourdes says his was the fifth.

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“They just pulled up and did a smash-and-grab,” Keane said.

The church's surveillance footage shows a black Infinity pull up in their parking garage. A male gets out and breaks the passenger window of a pick-up truck. It was one of six vehicles broken into.

Keane says the thieves got away with $2,000 in cash and even more concerning, a handgun.

“They got lucky to hit the lottery,” Keane said. “Of the vehicles they chose, one had a brand-new handgun and another person had $2,000 cash in their car but it wasn’t visible. It was just like they hit the lottery.”

The following churches all had similar incidents as Our Lady of Lourdes, which is located at 2718 Overbrook Drive:

· Highland United Methodist Church at 1901 Ridge Road

· Holy Name of Jesus Cathedral at 715 Nazareth St.

· Providence Church at 6339 Glenwood Ave.

· Summit Church at 3249 Blue Ridge Road

In total, at least 31 vehicles were hit. Despite this string of thefts from vehicles, Raleigh police said crimes like this are down 14% year-over-year.

Even for Keane, he knows a church isn’t exempt from crime. But it can be a place for people to right their wrongs, even in this case.

“The church is not a hotel for saints,” Keane said. “It’s a hospital for sinners. We know we’re sick. We know we’re not well. That’s why we come here. Not because we want God to pat us on the back for what we did this week. We know that, I got to get my medicine. I got to listen to the word. There are others that just maybe can’t embrace or give up that lifestyle. So, I pray for the people that did this. I just hope, at one time, they might be able to be witness to somebody say, you know, when I was younger, I was on a path that would have led to death for stealing.”

Raleigh police plan to hold a news conference Thursday morning to address the string of break-ins and provide tips for others to avoid becoming the next victim.

If Our Lady of Lourdes is an example, Keane says even things properly stowed away can be found.

“Nothing that was taken was visible,” Keane said. “It’s a reminder, even to myself when I go to the gym, you can say ‘I’m only going to be in there for a little bit’ but take your keys and your wallet with you.

“Leave nothing in the car because it’s worth it for people. Not every oyster is going to have a pearl but it’s worth opening up. They found a pearl. A brand new gun, never fired. What happens if that is used in a home invasion or an assault?”