Vandals cause thousands of dollars in damage and steal a dozen stained glass windows from the 1860s, paid for by the parents of L. Frank Baum, the author of "The Wonderful of Oz."
Syracuse, NY -- Thieves who caused tens of thousands of dollars in damage while stealing copper pipe from the offices of a Syracuse church also stole a piece of history in a dozen stained glass windows from the original church built in the 1860s, church leaders said.
The Second Olivet Missionary Baptist Church, on South West Street, has been targeted by thieves at least six times in less than a week, said the Rev. Aaron M. Jones Sr. Vandals have broken into their office building at least five times. They also attempted to enter the church itself.
"At this point, we really don't know where to go," Jones said. "This is just so crazy and mind-boggling. We just really need our communities and our neighborhoods to help us with security."
The vandalism at Second Olivet comes after the Peoples AME Zion Church, at 2306 S. Salina St., was burglarized earlier this month.
Second Olivet members first reported a break-in Thursday night at the church's offices at 416 W. Onondaga St. Thieves destroyed walls and ceilings, ripping out copper pipe and dismantling the heating units under the windows, Jones said. In one room with a locked door, the vandals removed the entire door frame.
The damage was so extensive the church had to shut off power to the three-story, 18,468-square-foot structure. Volunteers secured the broken window where the vandals entered. Syracuse police investigated.
But the vandals came back the next night and stole even more piping, methodically moving from room to room in the buildings rear. They have came back at least three more times, despite efforts to secure the building each time, Jones said.
But the worst insult wasn't the damage the vandals did, but the priceless items they stole, Jones said.
About a dozen stolen stained glass windows came from the original church at that location, the Methodist Centenary Church, which dated from the 1860s, Jones said.
That church was paid for by the parents of L. Frank Baum, author of The Wonderful Wizard of Oz.
"To get those stained windows back, that would be beyond a blessing," Jones said. "Those are history."
In addition to breaking into the office building, vandals tried unsuccessfully to get into the church.
A tour of the offices showed damage to almost every wall of the first-floor main room. The only undamaged wall contained dozens of photos of children from the church's afterschool program. The drop ceilings were reduced to tangled metal.
The congregation has tried to keep a sense of humor about the situation. Jones said one member quipped, The thieves went shopping like it was a blue-plate special.
But the consequences are very real and expensive. Jones said he's not sure what insurance will cover, and the church doesn't have money to pay for the damage.
"Where do we get the money to pay for this?" he asked. "It's on us."