CLEVELAND — Parishioners at Olivet Institutional Baptist Church received a rude surprise Sunday morning after returning to their vehicles following the service; they found them broken into.
Church is meant to leave visitors inspired, encouraged, and filled with hope. Last Sunday, that’s exactly how Kimberly Hill walked out of Olivet Institutional Baptist church—until she and other churchgoers made their way to the parking lot.
“We walked out, I see police cars,” Hill continued, “Then we walk out further, and then there's glass all over the parking lot, everywhere, like multiple cars have been broken into, windows smashed, people, their belongings have been taken.”
After the discovery, Pastor Dr. Jawanza Karriem Colvin posted on Facebook, calling it a "disturbing event."
According to Colvin, other churches in the area experienced similar break-ins.
He went on to say that Olivet will offer support to the parishioners whose vehicles were broken into.
"Olivet has always been committed to providing a safe and secure environment both within and outside our walls," said Colvin. "Olivet is also committed to being a light in our community and in the city of Cleveland, as we have been for nearly a century."
The church is looking into ways to enhance its internal and external security.
According to Cleveland Police Public Information Officer Freddy Diaz, the break-ins happened at least three separate churches, and more than 20 vehicles were broken into.
"So kind of makes you think you know how brazen these individuals are. They're going to a sacred property, a church parking lot, to commit these crimes. So frustrating, kind of heartbreaking to see that these juveniles are resorting to hitting these areas," said Sgt Diaz.
The department's Real Time Crime Center located the culprits, who were in two stolen cars. Officers caught up with them, and after a brief chase, two juveniles, ages 15 and 16, were taken into custody, Diaz said. A third juvenile managed to evade capture and is still on the loose.
Specific charges haven't been announced. Cleveland City Council President Blaine Griffin says these break-ins are concerning and wants to see stronger consequences to stop the growing trend of car break-ins.
"The world that I live in, most people respond to punishment or reward. So we want to either have to make sure that we hold people accountable when they go through these crimes, that we hold them to the maximum penalty. I don't care if they are juveniles. If you break the law, you need to be held accountable," said Griffin.
As for Hill, she still can’t believe this happened at her church.
"People were really upset. They were crying in the parking lot and just upset. I heard someone say, 'We know that the pastor just told us to be grateful in every environment, but we didn't know it was going to be this quite this soon,'" said Hill.
But she’s not letting it shake her faith.
"Absolutely not. You know the rule of thumb is, if you get on a horse and you fall off, get back on. So we all have to come together and go back to church and stand strong together," said Hill.
