Church robbed of ... electric guitars

By M. SIVANANTHA SHARMA

BUTTERWORTH: Thieves broke into the St Mark's Church at Jalan St Mark here yesterday and carted away three electric guitars and a safe containing RM500, some cheques, a marriage registration book and other documents.

It was the second burglary in the church, the first occurring in January last year when the church lost some money.

Parish priest Reverend Edward John said the thieves were believed to have struck between 4.30am and 5am by first breaking into the church office where the safe was kept.

He said it would have taken two to three people to carry away the safe as it was very heavy.

Rev John, who is also an assistant registrar of marriages, said the thieves then broke into the church proper in an adjoining building where they stole the guitars.

He said the church's security guard saw four to five men, in their 20s, inside the premises at about 5am but they fled upon seeing him.

He said he had lodged a police report.

North Seberang Prai OCPD Asst Comm Wan Abdullah Tuanku Said said police were investigating the case under Section 457 of the Penal Code for house breaking by night.

He said the losses totalled about RM3,000.