Thieves continue to plunder the Villa Seventh Day Adventist Church, with the third break-in since January 27 occurring this week.
The church’s head deacon, Sylvester Barton, told OBSERVER media that this time the bandits made off with an amplifier and a sound deck.
He said the thefts will severely hamper the church’s work.
“It affects the work of the church a lot, because we also help. We from the Villa Adventist Church, we help the elderly and everybody; we help everybody that comes around. It is a heart-breaking thing … but to God be the glory; great things He will do,” the Deacon said.
He explained that the latest theft occurred sometime between 9:30 p.m. on Wednesday and 3:50 p.m. Thursday.
Just like in the first two break-ins, the thieves damaged a window to enter the church.
Deacon Barton is appealing to residents to be on the lookout for strangers selling electronics.
“If anybody comes to sell or whatsoever, please desist from buying it, because it is not our property, it is God’s property. I am talking in general for everything in the church. People came and stole the TV and go and sell it for little or nothing just to get what they want. If they don’t have ID and receipts, and say ‘hey I purchased it from the store’, do not purchase it,” he pleaded.
The police began investigating the first incident when a member of the church complained that thieves broke in between 3: 15 p.m. on January 27 and 4:30 p.m. on January 28. The bandits stole one 32” and one 50” Sceptre flat screen TV sets, and one 32” Dynex TV set. They also took off with a mixer board and other electronic components.
The criminals gained entry via a window on the eastern side of the building.
The second incident was reported by a deacon of the church, who reportedly told lawmen it occurred between 4:30 p.m. on January 28 and 2:45 p.m. on February 1.
In the second attack, the burglars entered through another window located on the northern side.
They stole four DVD players, two tablecloths, two floral arrangements and a number of exercise books.
Collectively, the items – used to record and broadcast the church’s activities – are worth thousands of dollars.
The Villa SDA Church has for the past month been raising funds to boost its community outreach initiatives.