Prayers offered by fake missionaries were distraction for burglary, FL cops say

A group of fake missionaries used the power of prayer as a distraction while burglarizing an occupied home, according to investigators in Florida.

The “evil act” happened around 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, April 10, in Bonita Springs, and the trio got away with thousand of dollars in cash and jewelry, Southwest Florida Crime Stoppers reported in an April 14 news release.

“Two ... subjects distracted the homeowner, acting as a religious group, stating they wanted to pray with the victim,” Crime Stoppers reports.

A third person then slipped into the single-family home and security footage shows she rummaged through drawers and cabinets as the prayer was in progress.

“The female ... removed $3,500 in jewelry and an unknown amount in cash before sneaking out the side door and fleeing in a white vehicle,” Crime Stoppers said.

Detectives with the Lee County Sheriff’s Office are searching for the three suspects, who have been blasted as “despicable” on social media.

Bonita Springs is about a 150-mile drive southeast from Tampa.

This story was originally published April 16, 2025 at 10:45 AM with the headline "Prayers offered by fake missionaries were distraction for burglary, FL cops say."