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Last updated 11:43 am CT September 02, 2010.
Police Investigating 1-900 Calls from Churches
Church leaders at the First Baptist, United Methodist and the Assembly of God Church in Creal Springs have noticed big phone bills. The calls are to numbers they know they didn't make.
"Those charges are to 900 numbers which are sex numbers," said Creal Springs Police Chief Phil Jeralds. Jeralds believes someone is breaking into the junction box outside of buildings, plugging in their phone and running a line to a nearby vehicle where the calls are made.
"That's one sick mind in my opinion," said Pastor Sean Kelly of the Creal Springs Assembly of God Church.
When he opened the church's phone bill, Kelly was shocked.
"We open this up and our eyes are just so wide. We open this one bill which we've never seen before this company it's almost a $500 long distance bill."
During the investigation, police found that residential lines had been tapped too. So far, the tab for this sex chatting has amounted to more than $4,000. Customers are working with phone companies to see how much they'll be forced to pay.
"That money has got to come from somewhere. You want it to go to help people. You don't want that to go to you know, this," said Pastor Kelly.
He says he'll continue to pray for the suspects.
"They need to come forward and make things look right. They're ripping off phone companies making churches look bad and ripping off people that are giving to God."
To avoid having your phone tapped, police say you should put a lock on your outdoor junction box or have 900 numbers blocked on your phone. Also, keep a close eye on your bill.
by Christen Craig
ccraig@wsiltv.com
Now: 1283451096
