Church burglaries in Leflore co 07-08-08

FIVE CHURCHES IN LEFLORE COUNTY HAVE BEEN BURGLARIZED IN THE LAST TWO MONTHS. SHERIFF RICKY BANKS SAYS HE'S SENDING OUT DEPUTIES TO PATROL REMOTE AREAS MORE OFTEN. AS OF NOW, OFFICERS HAVE NO SUSPECTS. WHEN THE BURGLARIES FIRST BEGAN, DEPUTIES ARRESTED MATTHEW PEMBROOK FROM WESTERN SPRINGS, ILLINOIS. THEY SAY PEMBROOK WAS ON THE AMTRAK FROM CHICAGO, AND WHEN THE TRAINED STOPPED IN GREENWOOD, THAT HE BROKE INTO HAYWOOD CHAPEL TRYING TO FIND SOMETHING TO EAT. THEY ARRESTED PEMBROOK, HE WAS IN JAIL OVERNIGHT, AND THEN HIS PARENTS BAILED HIM OUT THE NEXT DAY. SHERIFF BANKS SAYS THERE'S NOTHING UNUSUAL ABOUT THESE CHURCH BURGLARIES. HE SAYS THEY USUALLY HAPPEN DURING THE SUMMER MONTHS EVERY YEAR. SHERIFF RICKY BANKS of Leflore county tells abc 6 news, "I'M FAMILIAR WITH THE CHURCH BURGLARIES THAT ARE HAPPENING IN THE SURROUNDING COUNTIES, HOLMES COUNTY, GRENADA COUNTY, MONTGOMERY COUNTY. I DON'T THINK OURS ARE CONNECTED WITH THOSE. I THINK THESE PEOPLE WHO ARE BREAKING INTO OUR CHURCHES ARE LOCAL PEOPLE. THE BURGLARS ARE MOSTLY TAKING AIR CONDITIONERS, MUSICAL EQUIPMENT AND THINGS LIKE THAT FROM THE CHURCHES. SHERIFF BANKS SAYS DEPUTIES WILL BE PATROLLING MORE AROUND CHURCHES AT NIGHT TO SPOT BREAK-INS. THEY HOPE THIS WILL HELP SHORTEN THEIR RESPONSE TIME.