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Alleged Church Burglar Leaves Note Apologizing For Theft: 'Pray 4 Me'

The alleged thief could be seen on surveillance video taking $3,000 worth of electronic equipment from Mount Olive AME Zion Church in Waterbury, Connecticut. 

By Eric Shorey

A alleged thief who stole over $3,000 worth of electronics from a church in Waterbury, Connecticut reportedly left a note apologizing for his crime.

Surveillance video from Mount Olive AME Zion Church shows a man breaking in to the facility and stealing cameras, computer monitors, and a microphone at around 1 a.m. on Aug. 19, according to The New York Post. Police have posted the footage on social media in the hopes of tracking down the criminal.

The burglar reportedly left a note apologizing for his actions, the Post reports. The message read: “Pray 4 Me!! Sorry brothers. Save me."

Craig Smith, a member of the church, demanded the return of the equipment.

“Give us our stuff back ... We need it. We need to get the message out to the sick people of the church and get religion into their houses who can’t make it,” Smith said to WVIT-TV, a Windsor Locks, Connecticut-based NBC affiliate.

"We’re taught in church to forgive everyone," Smith added, reflecting on the written message.

Burglary

The Waterbury Police Department is looking for assistance in identifying the male in the below video regarding a Burglary that occurred at the MT. Olive Church (82 Pearl St.) on 8/19/18 @ approximately 12:53 AM. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Detective Bureau @ 203-574-6941.

Posted by Waterbury Police Department on Monday, August 20, 2018

Jaclyn Davis, another member of the congregation, also bemoaned the crime.

“The product of what we do goes back to our staff, so to realize that someone had taken part of that away from us is stunning,” Davis told WVIT-TV. "[The note] saying pray for me, I’m sorry forgive me. So, even as we struggle to understand why this happened, it sounds like he had an internal struggle."

Some members of the congregation did, indeed, pray for the criminal, according to the AP.

Those with more information on the crime are being urged to contact the Detective Bureau at 203-574-6941.

[Photo: Screenshot via Facebook]

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