The Pearl Road United Methodist Church has been part of the fabric of Old Brooklyn, Church Leaders said, for more than 200 years.
The church hosts a farmer’s market, has a blessings box outside, and allows the community to use its space to host meetings.
“We try to do everything for the community. We have a trailer that we put out that goes down Pearl Road to the developments, taking food. They go under the bridges taking food to people, blankets,” said Tom Hites, chairman of the Trustees Pearl Road United Methodist Church.
Yet, someone took what didn’t belong to them—a burglar busted through the front door window. Once inside, the thief wasn’t deterred by deadbolts on interior doors that were put up to bolster security after a previous break-in. According to Hites, the church crooks got into an office and stole about $35 from an envelope, a few gift cards, a couple of dollars from a desk and a candy bar.
Fred Hodges has called Old Brooklyn home twice. Once as a child, now as an adult. He’s involved in trying to keep the community safe. He’s disturbed by the latest burglary at the church.