Police seek three suspects in church burglaries

By Jim Warren - jwarren@herald-leader.com

Lexington police are looking for three suspects in a series of burglaries at churches on Lexington's Eastland Parkway.

Officers released photographs of the three men that were snapped earlier this week by a surveillance camera at a Thornton's gas station on Winchester Road.

Police suspect that the three men in the pictures are the church burglars, based on stolen items that were found on the property of the gas station and photos taken by surveillance cameras at one or more of the locations that were burglarized, authorities said.

According to police reports, the Christ Centered Church, Our Redeemer Lutheran Church, and Aldersgate United Methodist Church all have been burglarized recently, along with The Big Blue Bird Early Childhood Center. All are on Eastland Parkway.

The suspects also might be involved in an attempted burglary Thursday at Lexington United Baptist Church on Rockwell Road, police said.

Police said surveillance cameras took some indistinct photographs during the recent burglaries.

But a break came earlier this week, when police received a tip that some items taken in the recent burglaries had been left on the property of a gas station on Winchester Road. Police haven't described the items.

Police then checked pictures taken by surveillance cameras at the station and identified three men thought to have left the missing items.

Anyone knowing the suspects is asked to contact the Lexington Police Department.