Tulsan robbed outside her church on Sunday

Someone robbed a 76-year-old woman outside her church Sunday, just before worship service. <br/><br/>Tulsa Police say churches are no longer off limits to criminals, so you canâ€™t afford to let your

Monday, May 17th 2004, 4:59 pm

By: News On 6

Someone robbed a 76-year-old woman outside her church Sunday, just before worship service.

Tulsa Police say churches are no longer off limits to criminals, so you canâ€™t afford to let your guard down, even at places once considered sacred.

News on 6 crime reporter Lori Fullbright says Gladys had come home Sunday morning to check on her pot roast before heading back to church for the worship service.

The drive is only a few blocks and she parked up front, just like normal. When she got out, a man approached her. "He asked me about the restrooms and I said we have some in here if you'll follow me I'll show you and he yanked my purse that fast and there was a car down there and he got in that car and left." With the man running down the street with her purse, Gladys went inside to get help and call 911. She was as scared as the congregation was shocked. "They went to praying for me and I stayed through the rest of the service and then went home."

Police say criminals used to have some measure of respect for churches, but, no more. Now, thieves are stealing things out of the church office while people are in the sanctuary or coming out to the parking lot and breaking into cars while people are inside worshipping. Gladys had to cancel her checks, get a new driver's license and change the locks on her door.

Now, her fear is giving way to anger. "It makes me real mad. I'm just glad I didn't have much money, only $5, so he didn't get much from me. And, he couldâ€™ve knocked me down and hurt me real bad, but, I'm thankful for that."

While Gladys would like the man caught, she and other believers know he will one day be judged and punished by a higher power. Gladys doesn't plan to carry a purse anymore and her advice to others is to always look around before you get out of your car, don't help strangers if you're alone and don't put up a fight.

Lori Fullbright says all good advice and adds the problem with these crimes is they don't just steal your property, but they also steal your sense of security and that's a lot harder to replace.