A sign built at a local church to honor members whose loved ones are serving in the military was the latest target of criminal mischief in the city.
Brother Eddie Chennault of Temple Baptist Church said the incident in which a suspect broke some miniature American flag poles and threw them on the ground is one of several instances of property damage at the church in the past two to three weeks.
Earlier this month, the stained glass window on the southeast side of the sanctuary was discovered broken. Church officials don’t think anyone entered the building through the window.
“I think they realized the security system would’ve caught them,” Chennault said.
A suspect is also believed to have taken a riding lawnmower used by members of a church youth group.
Chennault said some time between Saturday afternoon and Sunday morning, two outside faucets were turned on flooding the church lawn. Suspects also damaged the flag display.
A retired senior who is a member of Temple Baptist built the display and the flag racks and bought an energy-efficient light to illuminate the flags, Chennault noted.
He said the flag destruction is the most troubling incident.
“It’s irritating about the lawnmower....The water was irritating, but to desecrate the flag like they did was really a concern to me. They dishonored our church and they dishonored our country,” he said.
The incidents at Temple Baptist Church are apparently part of a pattern of burglary and destruction at local churches.
Mount Mariah Church on North Dixon Street reported a $1,000 lawnmower taken from a utility shed last week.
Officials from the Seventh Day Adventist Church on North Weaver Street, First United Methodist Church on South Denton Street and First Presbyterian also on South Denton reported burglaries at their churches about two weeks ago.
Pastor Larry W. Huffman, of Grace Friendship Baptist Church on East Highway 82, said his church has been a target for mischief and burglary in the past.
“We’ve been broken into at least four times since I’ve been here,” Huffman said.
Nothing appeared to be missing after someone apparently pushed a window panel out and entered the building July 12 or 13.
The suspects usually don’t walk away with a lot of valuable property.
During one burglary incident, the perpetrator took some small items including a bag of peppermints from Huffman’s office.
Still, Huffman said he cannot understand what drives a person to damage or steal from a church.
“It’s a shame they’re doing that to the Lord’s house,” he said.
Local News
Criminal mischief at churches continues
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