Churches Stunned In String Of Break-Ins, Burglaries

Thieves smashed windows and kicked in doors to snatch expensive electronic equipment and tools at three Spokane Valley churches this week.

Spokane Valley Baptist Church, Opportunity Christian Church and Christ Lutheran Church were all hit. The string of burglaries began over the weekend.

Spokane County Sheriff’s Detective Cal Walker, who is investigating the burglaries, said the break-ins are probably related.

Church officials are concerned.

“I won’t keep anything of value around here anymore,” said Greg Smith, Opportunity Christian minister.

At Opportunity Christian, 708 N. Pines, burglars smashed a window late Sunday or early Monday before finding a door that was inadvertently left unlocked at the church. They took a computer, a video cassette recorder, a microwave, a box of tools and a vacuum cleaner.

“When they took my tools, then I got hostile,” Smith said. He had been collecting the tools for over eight years and used them to fix things around the church.

The church’s computer was a donation and was being used to publish its newsletter.

“Now we’re back to the typewriter,” Smith said.

Thieves used a large rock to shatter a glass door at Christ Lutheran, 13009 E. Broadway, late Saturday or early Sunday. They took a television, a computer and a VCR, said Tom Shelly, the church’s pastor.

Shelly said the stolen computer was used by the church staff on a daily basis. He was frustrated by the string of burglaries.

“It’s not just churches that are vulnerable,” Shelly said “It’s every resident in every neighborhood and it’s time to wake up to it.”

Spokane Valley Baptist, 1222 S. McDonald, was hit early Tuesday, Smith said. Burglars swiped a sound system.

Tuesday, Smith was searching for ways to protect his church.

“What can we do? They’ve taken everything of value out of this church,” he said.

Shelly said he will consider other security options to safeguard church property, but declined to discuss what they would be.

, DataTimes