Thieves stole $30,000 worth of equipment from a Scottsdale Church this weekend, but that didn't stop the church from holding services on Sunday.
It seemed like a typical Sunday church service, but the congregation at Desert Mission United Methodist Church in Scottsdale knew it wasn't.
"Instead of knocking on our door asking for help, someone came in and took," said Scott Bailey, congregation president.
Sometime Saturday morning, thieves stole around $30,000 of music and video equipment from the church sanctuary.
Bailey found only disconnected cables.
"All of our sound equipment, video equipment, microphones, wireless microphones, everything we use in our normal service," said Bailey.
The thieves even took the pastor's guitar, but there was another guitar in it's place on Sunday.
"Well, we brought in some portable equipment. We're improvising, we're pretty good at doing that," said Bailey.
The congregation was stunned to hear about the theft.
"I really felt very bad someone would have to break into a church," said Susan De Simone, a church member.
"I don't understand why anyone would do something like that, especially around the holidays when the church donates so much to the community and gives back to the folks around the valley. It makes no sense to me at all," said Katherine Fey.
Investigators believe thieves drove up on the church's covered entry way then shattered the security glass in the door. No alarm ever sounded.
Church members still collected holiday gifts for those in need on Sunday, even though they are the ones in need now.
"It's just stuff, it can be replaced; there was no one here that got hurt," said Kat Hale, a church member.
"We realize that things are worth so much and we still have what's important," said Barbara Weinmeister, a church member.
The church does not have surveillance cameras but they say it's something they're now considering.
If you have any information on the church theft, call Silent Witness at 480-WITNESS.
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