$20,000 in equipment stolen from local church

EAST FRANKLIN – A local church is missing thousands of dollars of music equipment after authorities said someone broke into the church and stole several different items this past week.

Franklin County Sheriff Shannon Oliver said as of Tuesday afternoon, investigators have been able to recover some of the property and a suspect in the case has been developed.

Oliver said officials at Pleasant Hill First Congregational Methodist Church on Franklin 81 in the East Franklin community reported the missing items on Thursday morning.

Oliver said church officials believe the items were stolen sometime between 9 p.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 15, and 9 a.m. on Thursday, Jan. 16.

He said the value of the musical equipment that was stolen totaled nearly $20,000.

“This is just sad when someone would stoop so low to steal from a church,” Oliver said.

He added that whoever stole the equipment didn’t cause any damage the building that would hinder church services, but the missing equipment was something the congregation utilized each week.

Even though a suspect has been developed, Oliver said the case is still under investigation.

Anyone who has any information about the crime should call the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office at 256-332-8820.