Has your church ever been burglarized?

[SDG]

Church discovers loss of more than $8,000
By: The Enterprise


11/16/2007

Updated 11/17/2007 12:17:22 AM CST

A Beaumont church lost more than $8,000 worth of musical instruments, computer hardware and collectibles in a burglary, according to police reports.

The Amelia United Pentecostal Church, also known as Gospel Tabernacle, reported the burglary Wednesday night before services. Police found several broken windows and blood around the window sills.

Among the items stolen were an antic acoustic guitar, a laptop computer and several collectible rifles, according to the report.


http://www.southeasttexaslive.com/si...d=512588&rfi=6
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This UPCI church was just burglarized this week, apparently.

Has your church ever been burglarized?

When dad pastored in the South Bronx we were robbed all the time.

One Sunday morning, in the early 1980's, as dad opened the church we were surprised to find a huge gaping hole that was made so that a thief could go upstairs of the 2 story church building.

Within seconds, the thief emerged w/ two fans in his hands. We were obviously scared but Dad valiantly confronted the man and simply asked why he was there and that he needed to leave.

The man simply said in Spanish, "My addiction." He then handed dad the fans and ran out the building.

In another instance, a young man from the church worked at a sporting goods store down the block from the church was surprised by a burglar at the church. He would often go to the church to pray during his lunch break. One afternoon, as he prayed at the altar, he was interrupted as he heard noise coming from the storage closet. He then proceeded to explore the closet but as he tried to push the door open ... he realized a thief was hiding inside and would not let the brother open the closet door ....

They struggled for almost an hour ... and finally the brother convinced the man to surrender. He told the thief that he would escort the man to the sporting goods store where he would be apprehended by an armed security guard. The thief complied ... he walked w/ brother Oscar to the store where the guard called the police and he was apprehended.

There were other times when the thieves got away.

Thankfully the Queens church was never burglarized.