A local pastor is saddened and frustrated that thieves have busted through barriers designed to protect church property on multiple occasions.
"It's really discouraging but we know our faith is in God," said Pastor Billy Smith of Brighter Day Baptist Church. "So we not going nowhere."
This is the second time thieves have targeted Brighter Day Baptist.
Smith says that when one of the deacons showed up to prepare for bible study Wednesday, it didn't take long for him to see thieves had struck again by stealing two sets of air conditioners.
"We added two additional locks on each cage and they got through them," Smith said.
Brighter Day Baptist is located on East Canfield near Conner on Detroit's east side. The crooks used some sort of high powered tool to get through the iron gate and then on the two metal cages that housed the air conditioners.
Two months ago, it appeared that thieves used a power saw to break through metal bars to steal four air conditioners. The church's insurance covered the $14,000 cost to replace them and add a heavy metal meshing.
Unfortunately, the thieves were persistent and ripped the church off again, and Smith says he doesn't know if they'll file a second insurance claim.
"To file again they probably cancel insurance," he said. "Or rates will go high so we don't know what we're going to do at this point."
If you have any information on who is behind the thefts, please call Detroit's 5th Precinct.
Smith added that until next year, the church will use fans to keep the congregation cool.
