YOUNGSTOWN Burglaries force church to consider move

The insurance company canceled New Life's policy for theft.
By MARALINE KUBIK
VINDICATOR STAFF WRITER
YOUNGSTOWN -- After three strikes by burglars, the pastor of New Life Church says his congregation may move out.
"I don't know what else we can do," said the Rev. Dale Nitzsky, who founded the Canfield Road church about a year ago. "We secure the building, put in an alarm system -- I thought about bringing my dog in, but with my luck, they'd probably hurt the dog."
New Life, which has about 55 members, was robbed Dec. 12, then again in January, and a third time early Wednesday. Each time the thieves made off with about $3,000 worth of sound equipment including floor speakers and sound mixers.
The burglars came through a rear window the first time, the Rev. Mr. Nitzsky said. So, church members blocked off enough of the window to prevent anyone else from squeezing through. The church also had an alarm installed, he said.
Nevertheless, one month after the first burglary, thieves broke through a rear entrance and stole the new sound equipment; the equipment stolen in December was covered by insurance.
Final strike
The insurance company paid to replace the stolen equipment a second time after the robbery in January, but canceled New Life's policy for theft, Mr. Nitzsky said. So, replacing the equipment stolen earlier this week "will come from out of pocket, so we're begging," he said.
Mr. Nitzsky is hoping fund-raisers and donations will bring in enough cash to replace the equipment. "Maybe we can find somebody who has some used equipment," he said.
Although he can't prove it, the pastor believes the same thieves are responsible for all three robberies. They seem to know exactly what they want, he added, and apparently are undeterred by what he described as "an ear-piercing" alarm signal.
"They grabbed the stuff and ran," Mr. Nitzsky continued. "There were some drums they knocked over on their way out and the cords were bent on things that were still plugged in."
New Life is housed in the rear of a professional center and its entrance is obscured. The pastor said moving to a building that is more secure may deter burglaries.
kubik@vindy.com