Two Gaffney churches were targeted by a burglar or burglars between March 11 and March 13.

According to an incident report at the Gaffney Police Department, someone broke several exterior windows to gain entry to Elm Street Church, 200 Elm St., between 11:59 p.m. March 11 and 8:30 a.m. March 12. Police said they found a pair of channel locks – a plier-like tool – outside the church. A preliminary investigation showed nothing was taken but damage was estimated at $3,000.

Between 12:01 a.m. and 2:40 a.m. on March 13, police responded to an alarm call at Cherokee Avenue Baptist Church, 804 Cherokee Ave., and discovered a broken window.

Officers cleared the building to see if anyone was still inside. Police said they found an unlocked window in a men's bathroom and scuff marks on the bathroom wall. A door window to the financial secretary's office was broken and a file cabinet was gone through. Taken from the church pastor's office were five silver coins valued at $20, including two Walker Liberty coins, two commemorative coins, and an Eisenhower coin.

Police said a church safe was moved away from a wall but not opened.

(Tim Gulla)