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Eye In The Sky Catches Unholy Thieves

LAUDERDALE LAKES (CBSMiami) - Authorities are on the look-out, and asking the public for help, in finding two suspects who robbed a couple of priests at a church in Lauderdale Lakes.

Father Lesly Jean, according to Broward Sheriff's Office, was taking a fellow priest on a tour of St. Helen Church in Lauderdale Lakes on July 18th around 10 p.m.

"You've definitely hit a new low when you'll rob two priests in front of a church and have no remorse about it," said Keyla Concepcion of BSO.

While walking southbound on Northwest 31 Avenue, the father noticed two men but didn't think much of their presence.

The two suspects were caught on surveillance walking past the church and then prowling around the area. Four minutes later, they walk back toward the church and jump over the fence to confront the priests in the parking lot.

After asking the priests if they knew the location of the nearest bank, one of the suspects then took out a gun and pointed it at the victims.

One of the priests refused to get down, or hand over his belongings, and told the suspect "shoot me." Fortunately he was not hurt.

"Luckily in this instance nothing happened to him but it's definitely not something we would recommend. It's not worth you challenging an armed man and potentially losing your life over just a few belongings," said Concepcion.

The priests were robbed at gunpoint of their cell phones, money and other valuables. The suspects then jumped back over the fence.

The video captured the suspects, after the robbery, running towards the camera where an SUV was backed into a parking spot. The two men jumped in the backseat, and the car sped away.

BSO describes the suspects as two black males. One suspect is about 5'7" tall and approximately in his late 20s or early 30s. His accomplice is about 6' tall, heavy-set and was wearing a black shirt with a white stripe.

The driver of the getaway car, at one point in the video, gets out and walks around the passenger side. She is described as heavy-set, with hair down to the small of her back. She was wearing long pants, a dark-colored shirt and a white cardigan or sweatshirt.

Anyone with any information about the incident seen in the video is asked to contact BSO Robbery Detective Vincent Coldwell at 954-321-4270.

Anonymous tips can be provided to Broward Crime Stoppers at 954-493-TIPS (8477) or online at www.browardcrimestoppers.org.

A reward of up to $3,000 is available for information leading to an arrest.

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