COLORADO COMPUTERS STOLEN TimesCall.com - RMCC robbed, defaced:

Publish Date: 3/23/2009 RMCC robbed, defaced Police: Thieves may have hidden out in Frederick church overnight By Scott Rochat © 2009 Longmont Times-Call FREDERICK — Members of a Frederick church arrived Sunday morning to find a thief and vandal had been there first. The Rev. Rick Thielen of Rocky Mountain Christian Church said someone had thrown a rock through a window at the church’s bookstore, ripped up a cash register andstolen a small safe from the bookstore using a prybar. The thief also stole two Mac computers used by the church’s “Rush Hour” program, and damaged or stole some flat-screen monitors. A janitor discovered what had happened when he came to open the church for Sunday services, according to Frederick police. “It wasn’t what you expect on Sunday morning, that’s for sure,” said Thielen, the church’s executive pastor of operations. The cost of the damage and theft is not yet known, police said. Thielen said there was no sign of a break-in and that the people involved may have hidden out in the church Saturday night. The church locked up at 6:30 p.m. that night after several activities, including a pinewood derby. Services were still held Sunday, despite the police investigation. “It was a little weird for everyone as they arrived to see police officers everywhere and have part of the church cordoned off with police tape,” Thielen said. The theft did mean that “Rush Hour” had to be canceled that day. Jokingly referred to by Thielen as “Disney on steroids,” the program is aimed at kindergartners through fourth-graders, encouraging them to bring their parents to an event that merges acting, graphics, lighting effects and video. But without the missing equipment, Thielen said, the planned program couldn’t be held. “It was tough for the little kids,” he said. “A lot of them were crying this morning.” He said “Rush Hour” should be back up and running next Sunday. Police say the case is still under investigation and that no suspects have been identified yet. It could have been worse, Thielen said. No one was hurt. And while he’s upset at the invasion of his church home, he’s also concerned about the thief or thieves who did it. “Rocky Mountain’s all about helping people and families,” he said. “Obviously this person or persons is really hurting, or they wouldn’t have done something like this.” Anyone with information about the incident should call Frederick police at 303-833-2468. Scott Rochat can be reached at 303-684-5220 or srochat@times-call.com.