Thieves targeting church buildings
AN estimated $50,000 worth of offerings and tithes were stolen from Seventh-Day Adventist Church in Gizo, Western Province, overnight.
Not only that but church representatives said a signed cheque book was also inside the wooden cash box which was stolen from the church building.
According to a church representative, the robbery could have involved more than one person who broke inside the room where the church money was kept through the church’s back door.
She said a church program was held on Monday evening so the incident could have happened after the program.
“The wooden cash box consisted of money worth $50,000 in offerings and tithes, coins and a signed cheque book.
“This is a severe blow to the church community as these funds are intended to support various charitable and community initiatives and the overall maintenance of the church,” the concerned church representative, who refused to be named, told Solomon Star.
She said the stolen money are the generous contributions of the church congregation in their commitment to support the needs of the church especially the church renovation project.
The stolen wooden cash box was later found on the cement footpath at Gizo Primary School but it was already empty.
The incident shocked Gizo community as this is the second incident to have happened at a church building.
Last week intruders also stole a large amount of money from the Anglican Church of Melanesia (ACOM) church in Gizo. The money was never recovered.
Gizo Police have swiftly responded to the incident by calling on anyone who witnessed any suspicious activity near the SDA Church in Gizo on Monday night or early Tuesday morning to report to police.
Police are now investigating both incidents.
By ULUTAH GINA
Solomon Star, Gizo
