The Bartholomew County sheriff is warning local rural churches to be on their guard. That is after another church vandalism in the county.

Sheriff Matt Myers says that Triumphant Baptist Church on Southern Crossing has been hit by vandals, and he believes it is related to a case where an Ogilville church was vandalized over the weekend.

The sheriff says that vandals broke out windows and damaged flood lights and security lights at the church. It does not appear that anything was taken from the church, the sheriff said.  Monday night’s vandalism could have been worse, the sheriff says.

That’s on the heels of two other vandalisms of churches in southwestern Bartholomew County and three in Brown County. Ohio Chapel United Methodist Church, on W. County Road 525S near Ogilville was damaged over the weekend, including having a room set on fire.

Myers said deputies are providing extra patrols to try to keep an eye out for suspects. However there are a lot of churches in the county and deputies can’t be everywhere.

The sheriff suggested that churches have an emergency plan in place to keep watch over their own properties after hours and to review those plans with parishioners.

He also urged residents who live near churches to call 911 immediately if they see anything unusual.