‘They took the whole toilet.’ Church in disarray after burglary, Tennessee pastor says
Early on a Sunday morning, a Tennessee pastor walked into his church to find the building ransacked.
Police responded to the burglary report at 9:12 a.m. on Nov. 10, and found over $5,000 worth of items stolen, according to a Memphis Police Department report shared with McClatchy News.
“The thing that got me the most was when I walked in my office I could hear water running, and the toilet was gone,” Gregory Harris, pastor at Greater New Hope Missionary Baptist Church, told WREG. “They took the whole toilet.”
According to the police report, the thieves took four microphones, three speakers, seven heaters, a storm door, a laptop, a camera and camera stand, cash and the toilet.
Harris told police the burglars entered the building through a side door after pulling off a storm door. They took the storm door with them, according to police.
Officers checked for fingerprints but were unsuccessful, police said in the report. The incident is still being investigated.
“People are just trying to be opportunists, and today they took an opportunity to vandalize God’s house,” Harris told WREG.
Despite feeling disappointed, the pastor said the church will hold services as scheduled.
This story was originally published November 13, 2024 at 2:23 PM with the headline "‘They took the whole toilet.’ Church in disarray after burglary, Tennessee pastor says."
