JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Jacksonville police are investigating after a burglar broke into the Evangel Temple Assembly of God on Ramona Boulevard over Memorial Day weekend.
Pastor Bill Marshall said the thief or thieves stole about $15,000 worth of items from the church's maintenance building, which is across the street from the main sanctuary. The police report said the theft happened some time between 6 and 9 p.m. Monday.
About 3,000 people attend the church, which also serves many more people throughout Jacksonville and the world. The church's pastors are frustrated that someone would take advantage of them by jumping onto the roof of the maintenance building and breaking in.
Marshall said someone cut off the electricity to shut down the building's surveillance cameras and then broke through a skylight to get inside. But some images were caught by the cameras before the crooks cut off the power, he said.
The surveillance cameras show a burglar peeking into a side window, then going around the back of the building to kill the electricity.
"Basically what they did is just pull the whole assembly out, which disconnects all the power to the building," Marshall said.
He said he believes that another thief helped get the items out of the building and then drove away.
Marshall said a golf cart worth $8,000 to $10,000 was stolen. He said the golf cart is used to transport older members to and from church services.
The thieves also took tools and lawn equipment, Marshall said. The total value of the stolen items was between $10,000 and $15,000.
"It just shows that as a church we are not exempt from this theft that is around in the neighborhoods," Marshall said. "We prayed for them. We are upset, of course, because people give to our church through tithes and offerings, and it is the Lord's property, it's not our property."
Marshall said he doesn't want revenge on the burglars. He just wants them to return what isn't theirs, so the church can use it to help others.
"We just pray that the Holy Spirit's conviction will be upon them," he said.
Marshall is asking for the community's help in retrieving the stolen equipment and finding out who is responsible for the thefts.
"If they brought everything back, I can't speak for the police, but as a church that is all that we would really like, for them to just bring that back," Marshall said.
Marshall said churchgoers have been checking local pawn shops and Craigslist to see if any of the stolen items turn up.
Anyone with information about where the stolen items are is or who took the property is asked to call the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office non-emergency line at 904-630-0500 or CrimeStoppers at 1-866-845-TIPS.