Church robbed in Austintown

STAFF REPORT

AUSTINTOWN — A theft at Crossroads Church marks the sixth break-in at township churches in recent months.

The pastor of the church, located on Meridian Road, reported an undetermined amount of money missing over the weekend.

On Sunday morning, Pastor Doug Wampler called the Austintown Police Department and said someone had forced their way into the church office and taken a bag full of coins that had been donated during the church services.

He told police he found a man he’d never seen before sitting in the office at about 5:15 p.m. Friday.

When Wampler asked the man why he was inside the office, the man stated that his friend needed help. Wampler told him no one was available and to come back Monday.

He said the man, who had Chinese writing tattooed on the knuckles of both hands, left in a red Chevrolet Cavalier that was parked outside the church.

Wampler said that after the man left, he noticed a filing cabinet, where the money had been, pried open. The checks that were also in the bank bag had been thrown into the trash can.

Wampler said everything that had been sitting on the ledge of a window inside the office had been knocked over.

He said he thinks it’s possible whoever took the money gained entry to the office through that window.