Saint Mark Church Of Deliverence
PORTSMOUTH -- A Portsmouth church and sports medicine clinic had copper and other metals stripped from their buildings during the first week of the New Year.
Officials with Saint Mark Church Of Deliverance on Turnpike Road said they noticed four units were missing when they showed up for a funeral service on Friday.
The church had been closed for several days for the new year, officials stated.
"We think a group of people with trucks came in, maybe they'd been watching the area, and then took them," an official told WVEC.com.
Police spokeswoman Det. Jan Westerbeck stated the four Janitrol units are valued at about $40,000.
The theft didn't impact services or programs at the church and they are waiting for the insurance company to assess the loss.
Officials said they want to make sure people in the community and other churches know what happened so they aren't victimized.
Not far away and during that same week, "internal parts" were removed from units outside Hampton Roads Institute For Performance Sports Medicine, Det. Westerbeck told WVEC.com.
The practice on Rodman Avenue is near Bon Secours Maryview Hospital and about a mile from the church.
The stolen AC units/parts are estimated at $5,000, Westerbeck added.
If you know anything about these thefts, call Crime Line at 1-888-LOCK-U-UP.
