Several cars broken into, another stolen, at Baltimore's Mt. Sinai Baptist Church

BALTIMORE - Several cars were broken into, and another was stolen, while people were inside worshiping Sunday afternoon at Baltimore's Mt. Sinai Baptist Church.

Officers were called around noon to the church in the 900 block of East Preston Street in East Baltimore where police said thieves broke into cars parked outside the church.

"A thief doesn't care about who he robs or steals or holds up," Mt. Sinai Baptist Church Pastor Rev. Ray Cotton said.

Cotton, who has been the pastor at Mt. Sinai for nearly 30 years, told WJZ nothing like this has ever happened there.

"I think he just speaks to the culture of our day as it relates to some of the vandalism that we're experiencing in Baltimore City," Cotton said.

Cotton said the thieves smashed the windows of and ransacked about six to seven cars.

"Unfortunately, today during our Holy Communion service, in our parking lot, several cars were broken into, and one car was stolen, leaving several members saddened and uneasy that this type of crime could happen in broad daylight at church," Mt. Sinai Baptist said in a statement. 

The thieves also took off with church member Ernest George's car.

"They took the whole vehicle," George said.

Cotton says something needs to be done to stop the rampant thefts.

"They're stealing cars left and right everywhere and nobody is being held accountable," Cotton said. "So, if there is no real deterrent to it. There is nothing to prevent them from doing so."

The church has security guards but they were inside the church at the time of the incident.

Cotton told WJZ the church's cameras are motion activated and the thefts happened too far away from them, so the cameras didn't capture anything.

While police investigate, Cotton is hoping the thieves understand the severity of what they've done.

"You're not going to get ahead skimming," Cotton said. "You're not going to get ahead taking somebody else's property or causing damage to it. It's just a matter of time before karma will catch up with them."

Cotton said the church will be increasing security.