Nothing is scared anymore - not even churches. For years, pickpockets have silently slithered their way into churches for the main purpose of stealing wallets from women's purses.  This is especially prevalent in when the church visitors leave their purse on the pew when they go up to the alter for communion.

Here is a recent account of pickpocket thefts within a church that should be read by all who attend religious services.  Here is another account, this time in the UK.

Additionally, to show you how bad it is in some church's in the world, this is a beware of pickpocket sign that the church felt obligated to post at the entrance of Basilica St. Mary's of the Angels and Martyrs in Rome, Italy.