NORTH CAROLINA COMPUTER STOLEN FROM CHURCH http://www6.lexisnexis.com/publisher/EndUser?Action=UserDisplayFullDocument&orgId=563&topicId=16436&docId=l:556854769

: "Thieves steal from church
Graham Cawthon, The Star, Shelby, N.C.

Jan. 11--KINGS MOUNTAIN -- Carl Davis has attended Oak Grove Baptist Church all his life and for 16 of those 62 years he served as its Sunday school teacher.

Now working as a groundskeeper, Davis was among those alarmed at the recent break-ins that have violated his place of worship.

An antique communion set, DVD players, stereos, a guitar, projector, computer and food were among the items stolen.

Thieves entered through two downstairs windows, through one on Monday and the other Tuesday.

'That's God's house,' Davis said, while surveying several doors that were damaged during the break-ins. 'You're supposed to respect the Lord.'

Some rooms had items stolen, while others were rummaged through, but all were vandalized.

Monday's break-in occurred between 8 p.m. and 6:30 a.m. Tuesday's was between 8 p.m. and 11:20 p.m.

'Church and society have truly failed the poor people of this country and this world,' said Pastor Jim Brackett, in response to the incidents.

Brackett, also a chaplain for the county sheriff's office, said he thinks the culprits are young, based on their taking mostly snacks and electronics.

'I pray for them,' Brackett said. 'If they would come to our church, wegladly would have given them more than what they've taken."

"It almost makes you feel unsafe," said youth minister Mark Van Buren, "but I'm not going to feel that way."

Van Buren's office was among those vandalized -- a guitar and microphones were taken, and several eggs were left smashed in the room.V

an Buren -- who said David Baptist Church also was recently broken into -- thinks the culprits were young and knew the layout of the church, but they were not necessarily church regulars.

"They went straight to some things," Van Buren said. "We hope it's not someone we know."

Davis hopes someone in the neighborhood or a passerby might have seen suspicious activity in the area over the past few nights that could help detectives in their investigation. He said he would be looking into installing an alarm system at the church.

If you have any information regarding the church break-ins, call the Cleveland County Sheriff's Office at (704) 484-4822 or CrimeStoppers at (704) 481-TIPS (8477)