The Bible says: “Thou shalt not steal.”

A West Virginia man who broke that commandment by breaking into 16 area churches and one residence will have 12 years in which he might pray for forgiveness for his crimes.

Robert Crum, 26, was sentenced Wednesday in Lawrence County Common Pleas Court. Judge Richard Walton ordered Crum to prison for eight years for the single burglary count. The church break-ins were grouped together in seven groups according to when they occurred.

For each of the seven groups of break-ins, Crum received seven months. The 49 months for the burglaries and the eight years for the burglary will be served consecutively.

Crum may also face charges in West Virginia and Kentucky, since the items he stole from the residence and the churches were pawned at shops there. He may also face other auto theft charges in Kentucky.