Area churches burglarized

Thieves struck two Ozark County churches sometime between last Wednesday night and Sunday morning, making off with thousands of dollars of electronics and doing a considerable amount of damage.

The bandits burglarized Lilly Ridge General Baptist Church, where they stole sound equipment, including speakers, amps, mics, a mixer and a keyboard. Church officials said entry was made by busting out a window of the church.

Fewer items were taken but more damage was done at the Elijah Church of Christ. In addition to taking a laptop computer, the crooks also vandalized the church by breaking an interior glass door and taking all the light bulbs out of the fixtures and shattering them inside the sanctuary.

Ozark County Chief Deputy Darrin Reed said his department is running down some good leads.

"We have a couple leads on this and we are pursuing this very actively," Reed said.

Anyone with information about the crimes can contact the sheriff's department at 679-4633.

In November, three Bakersfield-area churches were burglarized along with some in Baxter County, Ark. Four people were arrested and charged in connection with those crimes.

<p>Lilly Ridge General Baptist Church was one of two churches burglarized recently.</p>