Authorities Label Vandalism At Cherry Hill Churches Hate Crime
CHERRY HILL, N.J. (CBS) - Churches and other religious sites are supposed to be holy places, free from the fear of everyday crime. But now it seems crime has come to Cherry Hill churches everyday.
"Nothing is off limits anymore," says Ed Herron, a parishioner at St. Mary's.
Vandals have hit at least five churches in Cherry Hill and Mount Laurel, knocking over statues, breaking some in half, and damaging church property.
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"It's very upsetting," said Dina Ciancitto.
The attacks started Monday night into Tuesday. At the time, it seemed like an isolated incident that police labeled criminal mischief. But the vandalisms kept happening.
"It's disgusting," says Gloria Dawson, on her way to Saturday mass at St. Mary. "I don't know who would do that."
The vandals hit again Tuesday night, then a third time Thursday night, even striking Saint Thomas More parish twice. Police changed the label criminal mischief to hate crime.
Now parishioners say they are considering keeping someone outside of their churches around the clock to stop the vandalisms and catch the people responsible.
Reported by Oren Liebermann, CBS 3
