Thieves break into church stealing food for the poor

WEST HAVEN, Conn. (WTNH) -- Police are searching for suspects after a West Haven church was broken into and ransacked.

Folks at the church are devastated and want to know who could do this to a place that gives back so much to the community.

"I wanted to cry," said Minister Phillip Krakowiak, "because I could not believe that anybody would go into a church and destroy property like that."

West Haven's First Lutheran Church is a historically humble place where prayers far outnumber membership.

"What type of a person does that," Krakowiak asked.

Krakowiak is offering a new prayer: a prayer for answers as to who broke into his church, destroyed property, and stole thousands of dollars of precious holy artifacts.

The sign out front is very clear, it reads "all are welcome." And Krakowiak says at the church, they try to live by that.

"The burglar, or burglars, were systematic in their approach, coming downstairs, breaking into every door, eight in all in this hallway," said Krakowiak. "Going into every room, taking whatever they could find."

Food for the poor was also taken.

"It's hard to forgive somebody who violated an unwritten trust," Krakowiak said. "I feel bad for the folks that did this."

The doors will remain open, and all are still welcome, as one desperate act does not change a philosophy.

"You have to see the good in this," said Krakowiak. "Something good has to come of this."