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Posted: Monday, 19 November 2007 12:56PM
Vandals Keep Phila. Worshippers Stuck in the Cold
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by KYW's Tony Hanson
Sunday services were disrupted at several churches in the Tacony and Mayfair sections of Philadelphia by vandals who damaged doors -- effectively sealing the churches, at least for a little while.
At least eight churches of various denominations were targeted on and near Tyson Avenue.
Someone put glue in the locks, and broke off keys inside locks. In a couple of cases, worshippers used a drill and blow torch to get inside for Sunday services.
Father Hank Galganowicz and his parishioners at Holy Innocents St. Paul Episcopal Church were locked out for a time:
"All three locks had at least been glued. Some of them looked like there might have been something broken off in them. And by sheer luck, one of our parishioners who showed up at 8 o'clock had one of those small butane torches. So he ran home, got that, and managed to heat one of the locks up enough inside for a key to get in. So that's how we got in."
Pastor Arthur Johnson says his Tacony Baptist Church was among those affected:
"Every entrance into the church was keyed. We have one that has a fence coming in -- you must come through the fence. Well, they jumped that fence and keyed that door. It’s really comical. They keyed that door and instead of jumping up and down smoking, I just thank God, because the devil is trying to tell us we are doing something right for the Lord."
No arrests have been made, but police lieutenant Frank Vanore says authorities are investigating and looking for the public's help:
“If anyone had information or may have seen someone around these churches in the overnight hours of Saturday night into Sunday, they can call Northeast detectives.”
They can be reached at 215-686-3153.
Police reported this list of affected places of worship:
Johnson Memorial
First Christian Pentecostal
Holy Innocents St. Paul
Mayfair Conwell
Disston Memorial Presbyterian
Tacony Baptist
St. John Lutheran
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