GEORGIA COMPUTER STOLEN Cherokee Church Computer Stolen Just Feet Away From Pre-School Class - News Story - WSB Atlanta:

Cherokee Church Computer Stolen Just Feet Away From Pre-School Class

Tuesday, January 27, 2009 – updated: 5:04 pm EST January 27, 2009
CHEROKEE COUNTY, Ga. -- Members of a Cherokee County church are furious someone would slip inside their building just feet from a pre-school class and steal a laptop. Church leaders said they worry some members could become victims on identity theft and the church's bank accounts are vulnerable.

Because they were one teacher short at the Woodstock Presbyterian Church's daycare, no one was near the office where the laptop was stolen.

Only the plastic Jesus watched over the room when someone slipped in, took the Dell, and ran off.

'It is a church. And I know times are hard but they stole from God and from our kids,' said pre-school co-director Wendy Coleman.

But it's more than just hurt feelings, church leaders said. The laptop essentially contained the daycare's entire operation and did include some personal and financial information of the church and some of its congregation. Pictures of events were also on the laptop.

'We had pictures from our events and you hate to always think negative thoughts but these days you worry about predators after our kids and information. When people start to get desperate they do things they wouldn't normally do," said pre-school co-director Linda Jones.

So after the theft that took seconds, the church's daycare leaders will take days or weeks putting their pre-school's operation back together. Church leaders are notifying members of thetheft, and are looking over their shoulders.

"This is like our home away from home, with these kids, and it's our church home and our pre-school home and it's like having your home invaded. And now every time you come in, at 8:30 in the morning...I'm the first one here, I'm going to worry. I'm going to wonder," said Jones.