CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. (WSIL) -- Over a four-day period a group of thieves broke into a Cape Girardeau church. On the fourth day, one of them was caught in the act and taken into custody. The church's pastor is upset by the theft, but also had some surprisingly kinds words.
Reverend Renita Green of Saint James AME said she's saddened by the crimes but sympathetic to the man because she describes him as a drug user.
Reverend Green has been the pastor of St. James AME church for the past five years. She takes pride in leading her congregation, and even provides outreach programs to people in need.
So when burglars broke-in she was deeply troubled.
"The first night they came and took like blankets and pots and such and then before we could even secure the building, we were hit again," said Pastor Green.
Pastor Green says she came in on a Sunday and noticed thieves had come in and stole items from the church while waiting for the bars to be made, three more nights," said WSIL Reporter Denise Turner.
The theft is distressing to Green because she believes their acts are driven by drug addiction.
"There's a crisis in the Southeast region and the crisis has be addressed. Right now the people who are using are the ones that are being caught. There really needs to be a focused intent on catching those who are manufacturing and distributing," explained Green.
That's why Green is sympathetic to the suspect Danny Lee Warren III who is being held at the Cape Girardeau Municipal jail on a warrant for Burglary 2nd degree, Possession of a Controlled Substance, and Stealing. Green said, she knows him, because she served him through the church's outreach program.
"He was pretty familiar with what was here and its just um, you know, it is just what it is. It's definitely not something that's going to prevent us from serving or make us lump everybody into the same category," said Green.
Green is happy Warren is in custody but worries the others will return.
"I hope that he gets the help that he needs, he been crashing for a long time. So I hope that this would be an intervention for him. I'm not happy that the others have not been caught because they had the boldness and to do it and our doors are open and we don't know who it was," said Green.
Since the break-ins, Pastor Green said she's in the process of beefing up security by installing an alarm system.
