Copper stolen from Newark church

Thieves have targeted a Newark church twice in the past month, causing extensive damage by tearing out almost all of the copper piping in the structure.

The Clinton Avenue Presbyterian Church has had to close its soup kitchen because of a lack of heat and running water.

"It was devastating," church clerk Loretta Hazelwood said.

The pipers were cut to the furnace.  The pipes were also cut to the boiler and the thieves even tore out the water meter, leaving water pouring into the basement.

"We don't have toilet facilities," Hazelwood said.

The nearly 100 year old church was stripped of nearly all of its copper in the break-ins on Oct. 27th and Nov. 9th.  The thieves got inside by popping windows out of the frames.

Pastor Deborah Oosterbaan says the church will not be stopped from its mission.

"In that mess we have in this church we are trying to find a message," Oosterbaan says, "that God's love can never be silenced."

Police have not made any arrests.

The church was also broken into last year and that led to the cancellation of the Christmas services.

They plan to beef up security.  They are waiting for the insurance company to decide how much of the damage it will cover before rebuilding.