THIEVES have targeted Mass-goers in Co Tyrone for the third time in a week.
The windows of two cars were smashed and handbags stolen while parked at St Colmcille's Church in Carrickmore on Friday.
The thefts happened some time between 2.15pm and 3.15pm while a celebration Mass was taking place to mark the 50th anniversary of Dean Maguirc College.
It is understood the handbags belonged to two young female teachers at the school.
Similar break-ins have been reported at two other churches in Co Tyrone in the last week.
On Saturday evening, seven cars were broken into while they were parked in a church car park on the Omagh Road in Dromore.
Another car was broken into while it was parked at a church car park on Main Street in Aughnacloy on the same night.
Sinn Féin assembly member Barry McElduff, who attended Friday's Mass, said he was appalled that the cars had been targeted.
"If this is a gang at work I would call on the PSNI to make public whether they are following active leads," he said.
"People are very upset and understandably shocked. The Mass itself was a beautiful occasion to mark the 50th anniversary of the achievements of Dean Maguirc College. This was an intrusion on the celebrations."
The PSNI's Fermanagh & Omagh District Commander, Superintendent Derek Scott, warned people that "nothing of value" should be kept in cars.
He added: "We are fully investigating and although these thefts may have been perpetrated by local criminals, there is a possibility that these could be the work of travelling criminals who travel through the area and target vehicles, still opportunistic in nature but in a more organised, purposeful fashion.
"This highlights the need for people to report suspicious activity when they see it rather than waiting until we knock at their doors when making follow enquiries."
He added that police recently wrote to some church leaders asking them to remind their congregations to be "vigilant regarding thefts from vehicles".
