A Clayton church, struck by arsonists about a month ago, was burglarized Friday night.

Pastor Darrell Sauls of Mount Calvary Baptist Church says church members noticed that four air conditioners were missing Saturday morning.

He felt "bewilderment that someone would have the audacity, after you've taken such a hard blow, that someone would come on your property and do further damage," he said.

Four other Johnston County churches were broken into during the past week.

The break-ins happened at the Unity Free Will Baptist Church at 104 W Langdon Avenue in Smithfield; Oakey Grove Baptist Church at at 3525 US 70 Business West in Clayton; Mount Pleasant Advent Christian Church at 3171 NC 42 West in Clayton; and Calvary Baptist Church at 283 NC Highway 55 in Dunn.

The burglars damaged doors and windows. And they got away with an audio recorder and an air conditioner at Calvary Baptist Church.

The Johnston County Sheriff's Office says the overall number of burglaries is up this year. From January to April, 200 cases of breaking and entering were reported. That's up from about 130 during the same period last year.

Pastor Sauls says the news of the church break-ins and the theft is another disappointment.

"There just seem to be no restraints as to what lengths people will go to," he said.

His congregation will have to wait even longer to return to its church. But they've learned a lesson.

"We will not take matters lightly from this point on," he said.

The pastor plans to install a gate and an alarm system.

"It's not something we really want to do. But we feel like now we don't really have any alternative but to make sure the property is well secured."

No arrests have been made in these cases.