Suspect throws rock through church window, breaks in and steals cash

By John Counts Crime and courts reporter

Posted on Fri, Jul 6, 2012 : 12:47 p.m.

A suspect cut the phone lines to the Ypsilanti Baptist Temple located in the 1300 block of East Cross Street in Ypsilanti Township, threw a rock through the window, broke in and stole the church’s money recently.

The Washtenaw County Sheriff’s Office is investigating the incident, which is believed to have happened sometime between Monday and Thursday, when the burglary was discovered.

Sgt. Geoff Fox of the sheriff’s office said the phone lines were cut because criminals hoped to disable any alarm system, which the church was not equipped with.

The suspect then broke a glass door of the one-story brick building to get inside. The suspect went through the church offices and stole an undisclosed amount of money.

“They basically went through all the drawers,” Fox said, adding that the computers remained untouched. “Some people just want to grab anything they can fit in their pockets. They don’t want to be lugging a computer while they make their getaway.”

Church leaders told police they didn’t have any suspects in mind. Deputies continue to investigate, but there are no witnesses and no suspects have been identified.

Fox said stealing from a church is different than stealing from, for example, a place of business.

“Non-profits survive on people’s generous donations,” he said. “When you have someone come in and take it, it’s a little more despicable.”

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