TEXAS COMPUTERS STOLEN FROM CHURCHhref="http://www.gainesvilleregister.com/articles/2004/10/27/news/news1.txt">Gainesville Daily Register: News ColumnIs nothing sacred in today's culture? Several local churches hit by thieves, vandals

By JENNIFER SICKING, Register Staff Writer
Is no place sacred anymore?

Apparently not.

In recent weeks burglars have hit three churches -- one of them twice.

Police Chief Carl Dunlap said in two of the burglaries they suspect juveniles.

"Normally in a church nothing is valuable except musical instruments or equipment," he said. If instruments or high priced items are stolen in a burglary, Dunlap said it normally indicates someone else is involved in it.

"It's the same with breaking into a home. The juvenile will eat the food and leave the watch on the counter," Dunlap said. "Food and things of that nature are more important to a juvenile than a watch and things."

In two of the recent break ins -- one at First Baptist Church and the other at Antioch Baptist Church -- candy and food items were stolen. At Grand Avenue Baptist Church musical equipment and computers were stolen; during the same weekend someone stole recording equipment and cash from Harvest Time Ministry.

Someone broke into Antioch Baptist Church for the second time sometime between Sunday evening and Monday morning. Nothing was stolen.

"A lot of time these churches are near a residential area. It's just a target," Dunlap said. "A lot of time with churches there's no one around them. Unless it's Sunday there are no cars in the parking lot."

When burglars hit Grand Avenue Baptist Church, they broke windows in addition to stealing the musical equipment and computers.

"I hope they really needed it and are not using it for drugs," Bro. Bill Black, minister of the Grand Avenue church, said. "I would rather they would call me. I will find help."

Older people who attend the church have felt violated and insecure since the burglary occurred, Black said.

"I don't like them feeling like our church is not a safe place," he said.

Black reiterated that if someone has needs, he would help them.

"Don't just break into our church," he said.

Through the years many churches doors remained open for the people to enter as a place of safety and refuge. Today that has changed.

"In a perfect world a church door shouldn't be locked," Dunlap said, "but then you've got these people who don't care."