NORTHWEST MIAMI-DADE, FLA. (WSVN) - The members of a South Florida church are hoping the public will help police locate the person or people responsible for stealing thousands of dollars in musical instruments and equipment used by their children’s choir.
At Bethesda Church Ministries in Northwest Miami-Dade, the children make the music. “We play music for the church, and it’s basically kids being connected with God,” said choir member Joseph Lamothe.
This is why the 15-year-old and the rest of his fellow choir members and congregants were so heartbroken to discover about $30,000 in drums, guitars and mixers had been taken from the house of worship. “The drum kit, they took it, and the snare [drum],” said Lamother as he showed 7News where the instruments were located.
According to church secretary Natacha Calixte, they found the items missing on Tuesday night. “We have several instruments that are gone,” she said.
The congregation was left wondering who would do this. “[We are] very disappointed with how someone could come inside a church and take something precious away from them,” said Calixte.
There were no surveillance cameras and no signs of forced entry, just lots of wires left connected to nothing.
How the thieves were able to enter the church remains under investigation. Church members said they locked up when they left Monday night, but when police came on Tuesday night, they found a side door unlocked.
While police search for the culprits, church leaders are working to replace missing pieces of the sound system. As for the music, for now, choir members will use the only instrument the thieves could not take away: their voices.
Friday and Sunday services will go on as scheduled, and chuch members said the search for those responsible is out of their hands. “It may not be today, it may not be tomorrow, but one day the Lord will give us the victory by finding this person,” said Jeff Jules, the church’s sound engineer.
If you have any information on this burglary, call Miami-Dade Crime Stoppers at 305-471-TIPS. Remember, you can always remain anonymous, and you may be eligible for a $1,000 reward.
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