Good News United Baptist Church worshippers were hit with some bad news this week.
On April 27, the pastor's wife, Patricia Watts, noticed that one of the side doors of the Mt. Eaton Road church was cracked open and a window was broken.
Upon looking inside, she noticed an electric wheelchair, usually located near the front of the church, was missing.
On Friday, Watts told newsnet5.com that several elderly members relied on the wheelchair to get in and out of church on Sunday.
"It will keep them from coming because they can't get in here. They can't walk up the ramp. They can't come up the steps," she said.
According to the Wayne County Sheriff's Office, the theft took place sometime between April 24 and April 27.
Watts said she has no idea who would have taken the wheelchair, which church officials estimate costs between $6,000 and $7,000.
Her husband, Pastor James Watts, admitted his first emotion was anger when he learned of the theft, but said he would forgive the thief and welcome him into the church.
"Maybe it will bear on their conscience so much they might even bring it back, but I doubt," the pastor said. "It'll be okay. The good Lord will take care of us."
According to the incident report, deputies talked to a neighbor who said he did not hear or see anything suspicious.
Captain Doug Hunter from the Wayne County Sheriff's Department said the crime against a place of worship also offended deputies.
"Being the cowards that they are, they stole a valuable piece of equipment from this church and it really strikes a chord with myself and other members of our office," Hunter said.
