Thieves rob church of equipment used to help neighborhood

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For the past five years, members from Metro Assembly of God have worked to clean up the South Side neighborhood near the church.

A grant from the Wean Foundation helped the church buy lawn mowers, weed wackers and leaf blowers. Now that equipment is all gone.

“That’s what’s really frustrating,” said the Rev. Al Yanno. “The only thing we used that equipment for was to help the neighborhood.”

Twice last week, thieves broke into a shed next to the church and stole yard equipment. The shed is locked and surrounded by a fence.

Early last week, someone cut the chain that secured the fence and then broke the lock and stole some of the equipment.

Church members reinforced the chain, replaced the lock and moved some of the equipment to a different location.

But Friday night, thieves returned.

They cut through the fence, broke the lock and took the remaining equipment.

“They took everything,” Mr. Yanno said.

For the complete story, read Sunday's Vindicator or Vindy.com.