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Raleigh church recovers stolen equipment
Dianna L. Cagle, BR Assistant Managing Editor
February 23, 2010
3 MIN READ TIME

Raleigh church recovers stolen equipment

Raleigh church recovers stolen equipment
Dianna L. Cagle, BR Assistant Managing Editor
February 23, 2010

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.)