Local clergy are working with Cleveland police after car break-ins targeted churchgoers at several congregations over two weekends.
Chief Dorothy Todd says the incidents mirror a broader pattern seen at schools, hospitals, libraries, and in neighborhoods, with suspects as young as 11.
Recent thefts involving firearms have prompted police to warn residents not to confront suspects, but to report any suspicious activity.
Clergy and police are now coordinating new strategies, including added security, to curb the problem.