Thieves Strip Another Memphis Church

(Memphis) Thieves in Memphis prove again that churches are not off-limits.

Thursday, a church in the New Chicago area was stripped of several items.

Neighbors of Greater Grace Baptist Church say the church recently closed because the pastor moved to Mississippi.

They say it now appears thieves think they can go in and take whatever they want.

Police caught 40-year-old Robert Weaver red-handed with items he took from inside the church and tried to sell at a nearby scrap yard.

Earlier, police received a call about someone in a red Nissan loading air conditioners into their vehicle.

Officers spotted Weaver in a red Nissan at a scrap yard on Chelsea and said he had a furnace and water heater in the vehicle.

They say Weaver admitted to taking the items, but said he heard some other people talking about stealing the A/C units.

Neighbors can’t believe anyone could steal from God’s house.

“You would think nobody would go into a church. The house of God, but you know they do. Worse things than that happen to churches,” said Chris James.

Weaver has been charged with theft of property between $1,000 and $10,000.