It’s back to business as
usual at Korean First Baptist Church on Ray Road in Raleigh.
The Raleigh Police
Department arrested four people Feb. 8, about a week after a break-in at the
end of January, during a snowstorm weekend.
Two of the people arrested were
juveniles.
“They were able to recover a
lot of stolen property,” said Jerry Miller, the church’s English congregation
pastor.
Thieves took two acoustic
guitars, two electric guitars, a set of drums, a keyboard, an amplifier,
instrument carrying cases and a soundboard.
“Most of that was recovered,” he
said.
A Raleigh News &
Observer article said the items stolen were valued at $11,000.
In an effort to conceal
their crime, the suspects poured hand sanitizer on the carpet and set it on
fire.
In the N&O story Miller
said fire damage was “minimal.” Three pews had burn marks.
Thieves entered the
building by shattering two sliding glass doors at the rear of the sanctuary.
A church van was vandalized
in the parking lot on Jan. 30.
Police are not sure if there
was a connection.
Laura Hourigan, police
spokeswoman, said the damage was contained in the sanctuary.
She said the police
distributed flyers in the community including local pawnshops to be on the
lookout for the stolen equipment.
Hourigan said a concerned
citizen shared some possible suspect information, and a video at one of the
pawnshops clearly showed the suspects selling the items.
Miller praised the
community, churches, Raleigh Baptist Association and the Raleigh Police
Department for their support after the robbery.
A portable soundboard was
used at the following week’s service, and Miller said they were happy to have
the equipment back for the next service.
A week after the arrests
Miller said the church was asked to pray for the people arrested.
“Long-term we’re concerned
about people’s lives,” Miller said. “We’ve seen God’s hand at work in this
situation. We’re praying for a powerful change and impact in these teens lives
… a powerful wakeup call to come to know Jesus.”
This is not the first
incident at the church. Miller said last summer someone stole freon out of the
church’s air conditioning unit.
(EDITOR’S NOTE — The
Biblical Recorder is working on an upcoming package about church security. What
are some ways your church secures its people and possessions? What works? What
doesn’t? Contact Cagle at [email protected] or 919-847-2127.)