Harvest Christian Center Church in Pinehurst and the Magnolia/Tomball YMCA facility located next to the High Meadow Ranch subdivision in Magnolia were both burglarized in the past several weeks.

In addition, two other churches besides Harvest were burglarized, Bethel Baptist Church in Magnolia and Church of Christ Fellowship in Pinehurst.

Outback Western Wear was also hit recently, although it is located off Dobbin Huffsmith Road in Magnolia and not off a major highway. The burglary occurred in the early morning hours of Aug. 13. Authorities said they have identified suspects in that case and are in the process of filing charges against them.

Chad Swirczek, executive director of the Magnolia/Tomball YMCA, said that the facility on FM 1774 had two air conditioning units stolen and that he has installed new security measures following the burglary.

Andy Andrews, pastor of Harvest Christian Center, said that he discovered the church had been burglarized on July 21 only an hour before their Sunday morning service was to begin.

“When we came in at 9:30 a.m. our building was ransacked,” he said.

Authorities said the suspects entered the church through a large glass window.

Thieves made off with all of the church’s computers, televisions, microphones and some DVDs. However, Andrews said the bulk of their sound equipment was not taken.

Andrews said authorities told him that there had been other burglaries in the past few weeks that had similarities “as far as the damage they’re doing and what they’re taking” to Harvest’s burglary, one of them — also a church — located only a mile away.

That church, Christ Church Fellowship, also had electronic equipment stolen, including DVD players and a computer, according to authorities. The damages to the church totaled $5,000 and there are no suspects as of yet, although a set of fingerprints was lifted from a file cabinet, authorities said.

Andrews, who has been pastor of the church since 2000, said they have heightened security in the aftermath of the robbery.

“We have taken steps to protect the building,” he said. “We’ve installed security. It’s kind of sad we have to take security measures we didn’t have to in the past.”

The location of the church, which is right off of SH 249 northbound, is something Andrews feels may have been a factor in the burglary.

“I think the churches that are freestanding and kind of isolated are real targets,” he said. “Any churches that are out in that area need to be aware of what’s happening.”

Lt. Joe Slider of the detective division in the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office said the incidents are still in the process of being worked by detectives and they are not releasing any information yet, but added they may have a couple of suspects.

“Some of the property was recovered in Harris County at a vacant residence,” Slider said.

Slider was unable to identify which business the property belonged to, but said the property has been sent to the Harris County Crime Lab where it is currently being processed for fingerprints.

Slider recommended that business owners do not leave cash or valuables in their place of business overnight, keep the business and parking lot well-lit and make sure to secure doors to the business and utilize an alarm system if possible.

He added that the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office offers engraving tools to the public for people to engrave identifying numbers on their property so it can be identified if stolen.

If anyone has any information regarding the burglaries, they are asked to contact Vince Hatfield with the Montgomery County Sheriff’s office detective division at 936-760-5876, or Montgomery County Crime Stoppers.

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