Thieves Steal Lawn Equipment From NE OKC Church

Police are looking for the thieves who burglarized a northeast Oklahoma City church, and stole a riding lawn mower, making their slow-speed get away on it.  

Pastor Charles Richmond of the Holy Temple of God in Christ doubts the thieves got far.  

"Well they had a full five gallons of gas so I don't know how far they could have went," Richmond said.

Security video shows the thieves; one on the mower and at least one other driving a pick up truck, stealing the equipment a week and a half ago after breaking into a storage building on the church property.  

Police say in addition to the mower, a push mower and a weed eater were also taken. In all, the church is out a few thousand dollars worth of lawn maintenance equipment.  

"When we want to purchase something we wait until we get enough money to purchase it and then we put on different rallies and through our tithes and other offerings we're able to survive out here," Richmond said.

Still, Richmond said he not only forgives the thieves, but he also welcomes them to join his church family. 

"It’s not the idea that we want to beat them down for something you know?" he said. "But if we can help them, if we can change their mind and their hears then we wouldn't have this problem."