NEW ORLEANS — A New Orleans East Church targeted by car burglars earlier this month is now also the victim of a church and school break-in.
Cameras at Mary Queen of Vietnam church caught a thief entering their buildings just after midnight Tuesday morning. The suspect entered the church by smashing through the glass entry door and breaking the door locks inside the building. Video surveillance shows the single suspect dressed in dark clothing that covers everything but the suspect’s eyes.
Just weeks ago, 17 cars in the parking lot and street outside of the church on Willowbrook Drive were burglarized in broad daylight while the parishioners were inside the building praying.
“This thing is out of control,” said Deacon Vinh Tran. “We tried to prevent one thing, and another thing occurred.”
Following the car burglaries, church leaders had increased security during services. Church leaders say some parishioners were already worried about safety before the building break-in.
“If you mess with the church, you’re messing with thousands and thousands of people,” said Tran. “Thousands of people who come here and want to worship.”
Tran says the suspect didn’t get much of value from the crime, but it will be costly to repair the broken locks and damage.
“In order to get in the classroom they had to mess up a lot of locks we need to replace,” said Tran. “It’s annoying damage, more of a headache. If they are brazen enough to mess up a place of worship, other places they don’t give a care about either.”
Church officials hope police are able to make arrests in the cases, believing that is the only way the crime will end.
“They do the best they can do, but in the meantime, if they keep delaying catching this criminal or let this criminal get away with it, then the next person will copy and say ‘What else can I do?’”
Mary Queen of Vietnam is preparing to hold their New Year’s festival on the second weekend of February. They say they’ll be working with State Patrol, NOPD, and the Army Reserve to ensure safety and security at that event.
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