SHORELINE, Wash. -- A Seattle church cafe and youth center, designed to get troubled kids off the streets, was burglarized overnight Wednesday. Thieves took tens of thousands of dollars worth of electronic gear.
Police say this is a familiar pattern and goes beyond a burglary. Neighbors and police say it's a crime against the community.
The New Hope Seattle Church gives something special to the community - it serves as a home for troubled teens. Now thieves have taken from them. The church cafe has been ransacked and ripped off - big screen TVs and stereo equipment pulled out of the wall.
It's a stab in the heart for the church's pastor.
"It's hard not to feel violated. Like every time we try to move forward, it's two steps back," said Jon Burgess, pastor.
The Blue Cafe opened a year ago to serve the community with free coffee. It's a favorite for Shoreline police, who now investigate the crime.
Thieves broke through the back door overnight and cleaned out nearly everything inside. In the youth area, the arcade games are looted. The youth rec room is a wreck. It's a troubling sight for church members.
"It's hard to think about somebody did this for people who don't really have too much," said Sammy Wabula, teen church member.
"It's not a business. Everything's free. They stole from an organization that's helping the community," said Jonathan Paz, youth pastor.
Because the center is a gem for the community, police are working this one hard. A crime scene team is combing the scene for clues.
Everything in the church was donated and nearly everything is gone.
"To see that ripped out, trashed and gone, it hurts. We worked so hard for that, but we're gonna get back and get bigger and better," said Ruthie Wabula, teen church member.
Police say this is the third large scale burglary of a facility in the area this month, with the same M.O. Police say they're determined to catch whoever is behind these burglaries.
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