Share This Article
Article Summary
A break-in at State Avenue United Methodist Church in Lower Price Hill caused about $100,000 in damage and stolen goods. Thieves ransacked the church’s food pantry and a closed daycare, taking food, diapers, hygiene products and other supplies. Cincinnati police received a report of the burglary, but no suspect or arrest had been publicly identified in the reports available as of Sept. 2.
A church break-in at a Lower Price Hill church caused an estimated $100,000 in damage and stolen goods.
The incident targeted a food pantry and a closed daycare at State Avenue United Methodist Church.
It happened last Thursday at the church in the 800 block of State Avenue. Volunteers discovered the damage when they arrived to prepare for a Thursday night community dinner.
According to WCPO, shelves and pantry areas had been ransacked, doors were damaged, and valuables were taken. Pastor Annie Burton said the incident left church members devastated.
Food pantry ransacked
The break-in caused significant losses in the food pantry, where the church stores supplies for Lower Price Hill residents. Burton told WCPO that thieves took diapers, feminine hygiene products, food and cleaning supplies. The pantry’s doorframe also suffered extensive damage. Much of the pantry had been emptied when church members arrived.
The stolen supplies serve residents who rely on the church for basic necessities. Burton said the church operates a small pantry that helps residents fill gaps in their household needs. The church has since started cleaning the pantry and replacing some of the missing supplies. WCPO reported that the church created an Amazon wishlist for replacement items.
“What we do here is give to the community. That’s really all we do here. We have short devotional times, but we have our food pantry. We feed people, but to have people come and take what we’re giving when they could’ve just asked for it has felt like a real violation,” Burton said in an interview aired on FOX19.
The theft also affected the church’s ability to maintain its community services. The pantry provides items that can be difficult for some residents to afford. Diapers and personal hygiene products were among the items taken. Food and cleaning supplies also disappeared from the pantry.
According to FOX19’s report on the break-in, Burton said the church plans to continue feeding people despite the burglary. The report also said the church plans to eventually reopen the daycare.
Church break-in caused major daycare damage
The church break-in caused its most extensive physical damage inside the former daycare area. The daycare is not currently operating, but thieves entered the space and removed multiple fixtures. Burton told WCPO that baseboard heaters were taken from the walls. She also said the thieves appear to have removed pipes from the building.
Bathroom fixtures were also removed from the walls and floors. The damage left the former daycare unsafe to enter, according to Burton. The church has since boarded up the area. FOX19 also reported that the daycare sustained most of the building’s damage.
The damage goes beyond missing property. Removing pipes, heaters and bathroom fixtures can leave a building with additional repair needs. The church now faces the task of securing the damaged area and determining what repairs it needs. The estimated total damage and stolen goods was reportedly about $100,000.
Church members first noticed something unusual when they arrived last Thursday. Burton told FOX19 that a side door had been closed with a shovel. Volunteers then noticed that tables had been moved and supplies were missing. They later found the daycare door propped open with a knife.
What police said about the church break-in
The church break-in has been reported to the Cincinnati Police Department. However, the suspect has not been disclosed as of this writing.
Police have not publicly identified anyone as responsible for the burglary in the reports available as of Sept. 2. No arrests were reported by either outlet. The circumstances surrounding how the person or people entered the building remain under investigation.
The church’s location makes the incident a Lower Price Hill community concern. State Avenue runs through the neighborhood and connects residents with several community services. The church has used its space to provide food and other necessities to local residents.
The City of Cincinnati’s Lower Price Hill neighborhood planning documents also identify State Avenue Methodist Church as a community institution in the area. The church sits within a neighborhood that has historically relied on community organizations and local services.
Break-in affects Lower Price Hill services
The church break-in comes as Lower Price Hill continues to face challenges involving access to food and household necessities. Community organizations have previously partnered with State Avenue United Methodist Church to provide pantry items and other assistance. Community Matters has identified food access as part of its work in the neighborhood.
A previous Lower Price Hill food-access initiative also listed State Avenue United Methodist Church among organizations helping distribute meals and pantry essentials. That effort estimated that local pantry partnerships could serve about 150 families in the neighborhood.
The church’s current pantry is smaller, according to Burton. However, she said it helps residents cover gaps when they need food, diapers, hygiene products or cleaning supplies. The stolen items therefore affect the church and residents who use its services.
Volunteers have already started restoring the pantry. They are cleaning the damaged areas and replacing supplies that were taken. WCPO reported that the church is seeking help to restock the pantry through an online wishlist.
Church plans to continue serving residents
Despite the damage, State Avenue United Methodist Church plans to continue its community work. Burton told FOX19 that the burglary will not stop the church from feeding people in Lower Price Hill. The church also hopes to reopen its daycare in the future.
The immediate focus remains cleaning the building, securing damaged areas and replacing stolen supplies. The former daycare will remain boarded up while the church addresses the damage. Repairs will likely be necessary before that portion of the building can safely reopen.
The estimated $100,000 loss includes both property damage and stolen goods, according to WCPO. The exact cost of repairing the building and replacing the stolen supplies was not detailed in the reports.
The church break-in also highlights the impact a burglary can have on community organizations. The stolen pantry supplies were intended for residents rather than commercial sale. Church members now must replace those supplies while addressing damage throughout the building.
As of Sept. 2, no suspect or arrest had been publicly identified in the available reports. Cincinnati police have received the report, while church members continue working to restore the pantry and address the building damage.
FAQs
What happened at the Lower Price Hill church?
Thieves broke into State Avenue United Methodist Church and ransacked its food pantry and former daycare. The church estimated about $100,000 in damage and stolen goods.
What was stolen from the church?
Reported stolen items included food, diapers, feminine hygiene products and cleaning supplies. Thieves also removed fixtures, pipes and baseboard heaters from the former daycare.
Was anyone arrested after the church break-in?
No arrests or suspects had been publicly identified in the reports available as of Sept. 2. Cincinnati police received a report of the burglary.
Where did the church break-in happen?
The burglary occurred at State Avenue United Methodist Church in Lower Price Hill. The church is located on State Avenue and operates a food pantry serving local residents.
