Scrooges Rob Church Donation Boxes in Scott

A few scrooges are stealing money from donation boxes at a couple of Scott Township churches.

Scott police received reports of thefts from the donation boxes at both Our Lady of Victory Maronite Catholic Church and Sts. Simon and Jude Catholic Church on Nov. 27.

There wasn’t a lot of money in either donation box–only about $50 to $60–but the thefts are upsetting to those who worship at the churches.

The Rev. Jay Donahue of Sts. Simon and Jude told WPXI-TV that the box was ripped off from a bolted candle memorial area inside the unlocked church.

"You look at the economic situation of families, and where we're going,” Donahue told the television station. “People live in desperate times.”

Scott police Chief Jim Secreet told Chartiers Valley Patch that they think the theft happened some time between Nov. 24 and 27.

The theft at nearby Our Lady of Victory Church happened on Nov. 27, although Secreet said investigators don’t think the two crimes are connected. Some members at Our Lady of Victory told investigators they saw a woman they didn’t recognize inside the church that day, but police don’t view her as a suspect.

Secreet said that unfortunately thefts like these are somewhat common.

“The doors are open all day,” Secreet said about the churches.

Donahue told WPXI that neither church plans to change how it conducts because of the donation box thefts.

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