SAN ANTONIO – Pastor Jimmy Robles did not expect to find a large section of the fence on the ground when he arrived at Last Chance Ministries on Sunday morning.
“The first thing I walked into is (this), before I preach. I come and see the fence is missing,” Robles said.
And things got worse from there.
He said thieves broke into the church’s large trailer, which contained athletic equipment, and stole an air conditioning unit.
Recalling what he said he saw on surveillance camera video, Robles said burglars carried out an elaborate plan around 4:30 a.m. Sunday, primarily targeting the church’s brand-new air conditioning units.
He said the burglars arrived with a truck and tools to breach the eight-foot-tall iron fence that had been built around the new units, which were anchored to a concrete slab.
According to San Antonio police, at least four air conditioning units were stolen or damaged.
“They brought tools to unscrew the whole unit off. They grinded off the locks, and then they stole, one whole unit ... and they stripped all the inside of (another unit),” Robles said. “You can see all the copper. They knew what they were doing because they pinched it off.”
Robles went to say that with the fence on the ground, the suspect was able to drive the truck up on the sidewalk and park, then load up the five-ton A/C unit.
While focusing on securing the fence and the remaining air conditioning units, the pastor says he has not yet been able to check the trailer’s contents to determine what might be missing.
He says the units are worth $10,000 a piece, and they were just installed as the congregation prepares to open Kidz Connect, the new children’s church.
It was scheduled to open next month, but he said they are now trying to determine if that will still be possible.
On top of replacing the units, the electrical panel was also damaged. A rough initial estimate to fix everything is around $40,000.
And that does not include fixing the fence.
But he said he has faith.
“In the midst of all the stuff that took place, like David, I have to encourage myself,” Robles said. “God will provide, he always does, you know.”
Church members and friends are already doing what they can.
Robles is hoping anyone who knows anything will come forward to help find those responsible.