LG Church & Masonic Lodge Burglarized

La Grange Police are looking for the culprits behind a pair of burglaries that occurred in town over the past few weeks.

Police Chief David Gilbreath said someone broke into Peaceful Rest Baptist Church at 808 E. Fannin St. sometime between Nov. 6 and Nov. 20. The church’s Yamaha keyboard organ was taken along with two speakers and a big screen television. Gilbreath said the stolen items were worth upwards of $2,000.

“We don’t know how they got in,” Gilbreath said. “There were no signs of forced entry.”

Church members discovered the burglary on Nov. 20. Gilbreath said no one from the church had been inside the building since Nov. 6, so the burglary could have taken place any time between those dates. Moreover, someone had previously got into the church and tried breaking open a safe. They were unable to get inside safe, but they damaged the safe and it will no longer open. That occurred sometime in October, and the church did not report the incident to police until they discovered the more recent break-in on Nov. 20.

Church Administrator Debra Steward said the stolen items and damage to the safe places a heavy financial burden on the small congregation at Peaceful Rest.

“Why would they choose us? We have nothing.” Steward said.

Then on Monday, Nov. 28, a member of the La Grange Masonic Lodge discovered a breakin at the Lodge located at 1001 N. Jefferson St. No one from the Lodge had been inside the building since the week prior.

Gilbreath said a small amount of cash was taken, less than $100. However, the culprits threw rocks to break out five windows on the north side of the building, which he said will cost about $175 each to replace.

“There was also criminal mischief, they basically ransacked the building,” Gilbreath said.

If anyone has information about these crimes, please contact La Grange Police at (979) 968-5806.