Food meant for a seniors’ Christmas lunch has been stolen from a Silvertown church.
The burglars bent a fence to break into Silvertown Baptist Church on Sunday November 24. They cleaned out a freezer, taking meat and chicken valued at R 2000.
This is the third burglary at the church this year.
The church also has a community feeding scheme on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays.
The church’s Sandra Adams said church members had noticed the burglary when they had opened the church on Sunday at 8am.
“They also stole some cutlery, crockery, and our gas burners. We called the police who came out and took a statement, but we are all so shocked and disappointed that our things are gone. That meat and chicken was supposed to be for our seniors’ lunch, so what do we do now? They also cut the gas pipe to the gas burners.”
A microwave, gate and kettle were stolen in burglaries in March and August.
Athlone police spokeswoman Sergeant Zita Norman warned that burglars would target vulnerable buildings at this time of year.
“There are high-visibility patrols especially now during the holiday season. We are urging homeowners and businesses to secure their properties and have someone present on-site at church’s or mosques at all times.
“Although we do patrol around churches and mosques, we cannot walk onto the premises so they must install alarms as well. Children will be more at home now so we will increase our patrols in the residential areas as well.”