Church robbed of yard tools used to help neighborhood

By Denise Dick

denise_dick@vindy.com

YOUNGSTOWN

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.

Six lawn mowers, five weed wackers and two leaf blowers were gone. The Rev. Mr. Yanno estimates the value at a few thousand dollars.

The South Avenue church was part of an Adopt-A-Block program and cleaned up trash, mowed the grass in vacant lots and planted gardens in the surrounding neighborhood.

Police found a man walking along LaClede Avenue pushing a lawn mower. The man told police that he found the mower and a weed wacker behind the former Roadhouse restaurant on South, a police report said. Those items were returned to the church.

Though it’s possible that someone who benefited from the church’s community service is responsible for the thefts, Mr. Yanno says most of the neighbors have been helpful.

“The neighbors are very good,” he said. “One started driving the streets for us, looking for people. The neighbors have been very helpful.”

Lawn equipment was stolen from the church last year, too.

Because of a high deductible, the church likely won’t recoup the loss through its insurance company.

“We’ll probably have to replace it on our own,” Mr. Yanno said.

He’s hopeful someone will step forward and help with the cost.

“Out goal is to still go out there and do what we’re going to do,” Mr. Yanno said.