Mike Simundson, keloland tv, Sioux Falls, SD February 21
If you're a member of a Sioux Falls, SD congregation, you might want to ask your pastor about the church's security plan. A thief or thieves broke into two churches overnight Sunday (Feb. 19) and tried to break into a third.

Embrace Church lead Pastor Adam Weber is happy to welcome visitors on Sunday morning.

"Late, late Sunday night, early, early Monday morning is when it took place," Embrace Church pastor, Adam Weber said.

But visitors in the dead of night are definitely not welcome here. "We've had different things throughout the 10 years that we've existed here. It's not always a surprise, but it kind of grieves you each time that it happens," said Weber. Photo courtesy of keloland.com.

In this case, a burglar broke through a classroom window to get in while avoiding multiple security cameras. "They ended up breaking through two interior doors to get to where our safe is at. Thankfully, the amount wasn't anything huge, but still it grieves you," said Weber.

Embrace Church is not alone. Messiah New Hope Lutheran Church was also broken into and robbed of some cash sometime after midnight early Monday morning. The same crooks tried to break into the Catholic church right across the street, but they failed to get in.

Pastor Weber says his church is now reviewing security procedures and thinks other congregations will do the same. In the mean time, Weber has a message for the bad guys.

"Maybe they found themselves at rock bottom. My only hope, honestly, is that they join us on Sunday. Whoever it is, we have 'welcome' on the door, honestly, no kidding, it would be an amazing honor to have that person come and worship with us," said Weber.

Police in Brandon tell KELOLAND news someone broke into a church on the south side of town Sunday night or early Monday morning as well, but failed to get anything of value.

The original kelo-tv story is here.