Empangeni Ethiopian church ransacked

Thieves ransack Empangeni Ethiopian church, stealing R50k in equipment, while police investigate three roof-entry break-ins.

10 hours ago

Muzi Zincume 2 minutes read

CRIMINALS vandalised and ransacked an Ethiopian church in Empangeni last Sunday, stealing thousands of rands worth of equipment.

According to a senior church member who asked not to be named, criminals jumped a wall and switched off the outside lights before climbing onto the church roof.

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“After climbing onto the roof, they tried to lift the asbestos sheet; as a result, it cracked and they gained access to the church. We suspect these people are familiar with the alarm system, as they deactivated it,” he said.

In addition to the damage, a sound system valued at R50 000 was stolen.

“We are aggrieved that these suspects showed great disrespect for our church. They walked up and down wearing shoes in rooms used only by priests. We are not too worried about the stolen asset, the main issue is that they desecrated our church, which cannot be quantified in terms of currency.

“No one is allowed to enter our church building wearing shoes. We all take off our shoes when going inside the church, but the suspects defied this. Our church is a sacred place, but it was defiled,” he said.

According to a local private security company, this was one of three Sunday night break-ins with entry gained via the roof and alarms deactivated.

A case of house break-in and theft was registered at Empangeni SAPS but no arrest has yet been made.

Safety tips for residents

King Cetshwayo Cluster SAPS spokesperson Captain Siyanda Shangase shared some tips to prevent becoming the next statistic.

• Do not leave valuables in the open as this might attract criminals
• Ensure homes are fenced and alarm systems functional
• Close windows and curtains when leaving the house or going to bed
• Ensure no valuables are visible in cars
• Tools must never be left outside as suspects might use these for entry or weapons
• Doors must be kept locked at night, with an additional lock if possible
• Never leave garage doors open as suspects can view what’s inside
• Notify security companies or neighbours when going away

“Neighbours or relatives can help switch off the outside lights every morning, as suspects might notice there is no one at home when lights are on day and night,” said Shangase.

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