Car break-ins reported at church, school

Kathy Via is one of more than a dozen people who have had their cars broken into at Glen Alpine Elementary or at First Baptist Church recently.

Church members are now patrolling the parking lot.

"One o'clock in the afternoon, you don't think anything is going to happen. Of course it is never going to happen to you," Via said.

Police believe the thieves are targeting cars with women, watching them as they got out to see if they left anything behind.

"It's pathetic," said Glen Alpine Police Chief Tony Moses. "People trying to serve the lord and do what's right, and people breaking into their cars."

Investigators said their best lead is surveillance video and a photo taken at an ATM.

Officers said two men have been named as persons of interest after credit cards stolen during the car break-ins were used.

Via said she has gotten some of her belongings back after people found it thrown out along Interstate 40, but it has taken the whole week to replace everything else.

"All cards, checking, license, debit cards, everything," she said. "It just put my whole life on hold."