Man Robs Church Volunteer at Gunpoint, Steals Offering

A man robbed a church volunteer at gunpoint Sunday at Holy Family Church in Camillus, N.Y., and made off with the offering from the service.

According to WSYR-TV in nearby Syracuse, N.Y., the volunteer was organizing the giving envelopes immediately after a 10:30 a.m. worship service when a man approached the volunteer with a pellet gun and demanded the collection plates. As of the time of the report, police had not made any arrests but did recover the weapon.

“I think the first reaction was shock, shock and a little bit of, disheartening and great disappointment,” Danielle Cummings, the church’s spokesperson, told reporters. “But you also think about what is this person going through that they really have a need to take the collection from a church.”

Police speculate the robber lives nearby, as he escaped through an adjacent wooded area.

The incident is the latest in a series of recent events that have questioned how safe people are at church. Law enforcement suggest that all churches constantly re-evaluate themselves and determine how safe they are and what additional safety measures they can take.