Vandals Ransack NW OKC Church

A church was burglarized in northwest Oklahoma City and the pastor said there is about $7,000 worth of missing items and damage.

Employees believe the burglars ransacked the place sometime between 9 p.m. Thursday and 8 a.m. Friday.

Surveying the damage and still discovering what all they stole, Dr. Tom Lyda, the senior pastor at New Covenant Christian, was just disappointed.

The burglars made an effort to take valuables, hammering on filing cabinets and breaking open piggy banks. Computers, guitars, cash were taken. So were somewhat odd items, like office chairs, a kidney pillow and chocolate cake. But the bulk of their visit was spent vandalizing the place.

A set of double doors was hit and they spray painted the word “ghost” on computer screens and worse in the sanctuary. Friday morning the church had a scheduled funeral and scrambled to paint the walls before the service because of what the vandals did.

“A very difficult time for a family and they could really care less and not connect the dots and it’s really disappointing that people would actually do this,” said Lyda.

After the interview with News 9, Lyda saw kids outside of his church holding a familiar item. He called police, who caught up with them a few blocks away and investigators said the boys did have a bat taken in the burglary, but they can't confirm how they got ahold of it.

Friday afternoon three of the four contacted were taken into custody on unrelated charges, according to police on scene.

Whoever is responsible, Lyda just hopes they realize their actions matter.

“We’re here to help everyone and we’re on everybody’s side and there’s no reason to hurt a church – doesn’t make any sense whatsoever,” he said.