By Paul Thompson

Northeast News

KANSAS CITY, Missouri – Independence Boulevard Christian Church (606 Gladstone) is the latest victim of a frustrating string of church burglaries in the Historic Northeast.

The suspect, who was caught on tape by IBCC security cameras, stole more than a thousand dollars worth of audio/visual equipment, food, and other miscellaneous items during the burglary, which occurred in the early morning hours of Monday, October 3. As of the afternoon of Tuesday, October 4, the suspect had not yet been positively identified.

The incident forced IBCC to cancel its Micah Ministry night, which usually provides a hearty meal for the most needy families in the community every Monday evening from 5:30 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. As the first Monday of the month, the church had been planning to host it’s popular meat loaf dinner on October 3. Ministry Assistant Elke Flaharty indicated that as many as 900 men, women, and children missed out on a vital meal as a result of the cancellation.

“We weren’t able to open up to feed the community,” said Flaharty. “There’s children who come to this ministry on Monday nights. When people think of the homeless, all they think of are adults. That’s not the case; it’s adults, children, and babies that come here on Monday nights to be fed and clothed.”

Sgt. Lisa Allender of East Property Crimes noted that there has been a recent uptick in church burglaries over the past few weeks.

“We have had a few church burglaries – unfortunately it’s been kind of a busy month,” said Allender. “We have a lot of patterns that we’ve been working.”

The October 3 robbery marks the second time during the past two months that Independence Boulevard Christian Church has been targeted by a burglar. On the evening of August 16, 2016, an individual matching the description of a suspect in a string of church robberies was encountered by a church employee inside the premises. Authorities would go on to arrest the suspect, named Albert Brown, on burglary charges shortly thereafter. Court records indicate that Brown was released on his own recognizance on September 2, and is currently awaiting an arraignment scheduled for October 24, 2016.

Flaharty noted that the previous burglary attempt at the church was thwarted after the employee heard suspicious noises while working late one Friday evening. Thankfully, the burglar left without a physical confrontation.

“They met in basically a dark room upstairs on the third floor. I had the video, and it gave me goosebumps just looking at it, because you just don’t know how that could have ended,” said Flaharty. “We’ve gone years without break-in’s, and then all of a sudden it’s just back-to-back, really. It’s kind of scary.”

St. Anthony’s Catholic Church in the 300 block of Benton Boulevard and Grace United Church in the 800 block of Benton Blvd. were also both burglarized in early August. Property Crimes detectives at East Patrol indicated that the same type of electronic equipment was stolen from each church. In the case of St. Anthony’s, it is one of at least three burglaries that has plagued the church over the last year or so.

According to Father Paul Turner of St. Anthony’s Parish, roughly $3,000 worth of sound equipment was stolen on Tuesday, August 2 when the burglar broke a stained glass window to gain access to the church.

On Tuesday, October 4, Flaharty added that if she could speak directly to the burglar, she would attempt to appeal to his sense of common decency.

“Who do you have the most respect for in your life? Do you think they would be pleased knowing that you broke into a church that’s supposed to be holy ground? Would they be pleased with that?” asked Flaharty. “Where is your moral value? What part of you tells you it’s okay to do something like that?”

Anyone with information regarding the burglary or identity of the suspect can call the TIPS hotline at 816-474-TIPS.