Local church targeted by thieves again

A Corbin church has been hit by thieves again, and local Sheriff’s deputies are hoping they can piece together clues that will lead to the arrest of those responsible.

Members of Corinth Missionary Baptist Church made a shocking discovery Thursday evening after they noticed a rear entryway had been forced open at the church.

“They just pried the hinges off the door and busted off the doorknob in order to get inside,” said Whitley County Sheriff’s Deputy Ron Bowling, one of several officers with the department who responded to the scene. “This is just a terrible thing someone has done here.”

At first, police and church members thought the thieves had made off with over $3,000 worth of electronics and sound equipment. That’s before Sheriff’s Deputy Ben Hodge located many of the missing items in a large trash bin next to the church.

Police quickly left the scene an watched the area closely until the early-morning hours hoping the thieves would return for the items they stashed. Inside the bin were speakers, a keyboard, wireless microphones, stands, cords and even a vacuum cleaner.
The thieves never returned.

“We had a lot of deputies working on it,” Bowling said. “Those responsible for this must have seen us or just gotten spooked and decided not to return.”

Almost all the items, at first thought to be taken, were recovered. Bowling said after an inventory of everything was taken, the church was still missing some microphones, stands and adaptors. Police estimate about $500 worth of equipment was taken.

“I hate it for anybody that’s so desperate they think they have to steal from anyone, but to steal from a house of God … that is pretty depraved,” said Corinth Missionary Baptist Church Pastor Lenny Strunk. “We are here to help the community. If somebody needs food, clothes, rent, electic whatever we help a lot of people with everything. It really kind of hurts when ppl want to come in and vandalize and steal. We love them and pray for them.”

The incident was reported at about 6:30 p.m. Police say they think the burglary and theft happened sometime between 2:30 and 6:30 p.m. Thursday.

Earlier this year the church was a victim of theft. Two juveniles took the church’s van and wrecked it on a rural roadway.

Bowling, Hodge and Whitley County Sheriff’s Detective Chuck Davis are investigating the case. Deputies Dorman Patrick, Adam Jarboe and Dennis Foley all assisted.