MASSACHUSETTS COMPUTERS STOLEN FROM CHURCHThe Enterprise at SouthofBoston.com: "Taunton church ransacked

By Terence J. Downing, Enterprise staff writer

TAUNTON — When the Rev. Jane S. Lawrence was ordained in 1993, her daughters Joanna and Jessica gave her a special cross that she wears every Sunday on the altar at Memorial United Methodist Church, where she is pastor.

“I wear it on my robe,” Lawrence said.

But now the cross is gone.

Thieves broke into the church at 176 Somerset Ave. sometime early Tuesday morning and stole not only the cross, but thousands of dollars worth of computers, religious items, other valuables and even $52 in offerings from last Sunday night's service.

Lawrence said every part of the church was ransacked.

Crowbars were used to pry open interior doors and the burglars even tore the frame off the door to a supply closet.

The chancel, where altar supplies are kept, was also hit.

“They went everywhere in this building,” Lawrence said. “They must have been in here for hours.”"

Church members were devastated when they learned of the break-in Tuesday.

“It's disheartening that someone would do this to a church and program in our community that's trying to help people,” said Lawrence, who struggled to hold back tears as she talked about the break-in in her office.

The steel door to her office wasn't enough to stop the burglars.

They used a glass cutter to remove the pane, thinking they could reach in and unlock the door from the inside. But they couldn't because a key is needed.

So the burglars bashed in the steel lock, ramming it over and over again until the door gave way.

They stole a second cross that Lawrence's daughter Joanna gave to her a year ago.

“It's painful. You feel violated and hurt,” she said. “We feel a lot less secure. A person had to be pretty desperate to do this. God's heart breaks when we do things to hurt each other.”

Among the stolen items were seven new computers used by the Taunton Adult Education Partnership, one of the many community groups that uses the church for outreach programs.

The partnership is a joint project of the Taunton Public Schools and Bristol Community College and provides free GED programs, English as a second language classes and job counseling.

“It's a good program for people who are trying to better themselves,” Lawrence said.

The loss of the computers is devastating because they contained test data for students. The computers were purchased last month.

Also stolen was the church's new Dell laptop and its power-point projector.

The Dell laptop and projector were gifts from member Suzanne Fiore of Taunton in memory of her daughter, the late Heidi Fiore. Suzanne Fiore is the mother of School Committee member Jordan H. F. Fiore. Heidi was his sister.

Lawrence said the new computer set was the heart of their new Sunday night service called “Praise Right Now,” a non-conventional upbeat service featuring videos and contemporary music all geared to new believers.

“We refer to it as a seeker service,” said Lawrence. “It reaches to the hearts of people who don't know the traditions of the church. It speaks and sings the language of hearts.”

The computer is linked to the power-point projector, which throws words to hymns and other messages up on a large screen with scenery videos behind it.

“A lot of worship materials were stored on that computer,” she said.

The new computer system was first used at the Sunday night service last July 9, to mark Heidi Fiore's birthday.

Also downloaded on the computer was information used to recruit people to the upcoming mission in February to St. Bernard County in New Orleans, where the church is assisting Habitat For Humanity in rebuilding the community.

Lawrence said she can't understand why anyone would break into the church.

“We are a place that welcomes people and helps people. We share our space with the community,” said Lawrence. “This is a sanctuary. We're supposed to feel safe here.”

The church allows other groups to use its building, including Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts, two addiction programs and Bristol Plymouth Family Services, which offers counseling.

Lawrence said investigators believe someone came into the church while it was busy with its many activities, walked downstairs and opened a side door, leaving it slightly ajar so they could return late at night when the church was empty.

It's likely a vehicle was used to haul away all the goods.

Lawrence, who lives next door, said she had church members over for dinner Monday night. She did not see or hear anything.

The break-in was discovered at about 7:30 a.m. Tuesday by the church secretary.

Lawrence said the church alarm had been turned off recently because glitches in the system caused frequent false alarms and police said they would issue fines for false alarms over a certain limit under a city ordinance.

Police Chief Raymond L. O'Berg said he was sorry for the misunderstanding, but he said the church, because it is non-profit, would have been exempted from the fines.

“They wouldn't have to pay,” O'Berg said.

Lawrence said that after she “cried and prayed” over the incident, she went to all the pawn shops in the city to give them the heads up to be on the lookout for the goods and she provided them with detailed descriptions and serial numbers.

Lawrence is trying to remain upbeat.

“People talk about the church being in a bad neighborhood, but I don't think it is,” Lawrence said.

She said she was reminded of her favorite song, “God will make a way where there seems to be no way.”

“That's what we are hoping for is that everything will be returned,” Lawrence said.

“We need prayers for our spirit and for the persons who did this,” Lawrence said.