[Stardust]

LATONIA — In just a week and a half, burglars have hit three churches here – including one that was broken into on Christmas.

In all three cases the burglars took electronic equipment and cash, said Covington Police spokesman Lt. Col. Spike Jones. The thieves also caused significant damage to the churches while breaking in and rooting around for the items they wanted.

Detectives think the burglaries were committed by either the same people or group of people.

The first break-in occurred at Trinity United Methodist Church at 101 E. Southern Ave. sometime between 12:30 p.m. on Christmas and early Dec. 26, said Pastor Loletuth Kalz.

Then on New Year’s Eve, the thieves hit the First Church of God at 524 W. Southern Ave. On Jan. 4, the Latonia Christian Church at 3900 Decoursey Ave. was burglarized.

The thieves took cash, computers and audio/visual equipment, Jones said. In each case, the burglars broke a window to get into the churches, he said.

Kalz said the burglars went through the desk drawers and cabinets in the church offices and got away with only a small amount of cash and one laptop computer. The church makes it a point not to leave a lot of cash or valuables in the office, she said.

“It’s sad, it’s unfortunate that it happened,” Kalz said. “We were just glad that it wasn’t worse than it was and that no one was here when it happened.”

But Kalz said she was saddened that the other churches were also hit. Since the burglary, Kalz said her congregation, which averages about 80 worshipers each Sunday, has prayed for the burglars.

“We know that these are really hard times and that sometimes people are doing things to survive,” she said, “and we just pray that that changes ... and pray that the people that did do this can experience grace and get the help that they need.”

Jones said he hopes that someone in the tight-knit Latonia community will hear about the break-ins and call police.

“Someone knows somebody that saw something,” Jones said, “and they’ll realize what we’re working on and they’ll reach out to us.”

Anyone who has information about the burglaries is asked to call Crime Stoppers or Covington Police Detective Derek Uhl 859-292-2242.

http://nky.cincinnati.com/article/AB/201...|FRONTPAGE

[Stardust]

[Image: http://cmsimg.nky.com/apps/pbcsi.dll/bil...a-churches]


I guess the burglars didn't want the typewriter???????