Church Burglarized 3 Times; Minister Assaulted

SILVER SPRING, Md. (AP) -- Montgomery County Police say a Silver Spring church has been burglarized three times, and a minister was punched by an intruder. 

Police say the first burglary occurred between Nov. 28 and Dec. 2 at the New Creation Baptist Church. A safe with church documents and cash were taken. 

The church, which serves two congregations, was broken into again Saturday and Sunday. Someone had cooked and eaten at the church, and a water jug containing 30,000 pennies were taken; another 10,000 pennies were stolen from a computer room. 

On Sunday evening, the pastor found someone hiding in a basement bathroom. The pastor tried to keep the man from leaving, but the suspect punched him. 

The pastor declined medical treatment. 

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