Uniting Church minister Ian Pearse is disappointed by the theft.
Camera IconUniting Church minister Ian Pearse is disappointed by the theft. Credit: Supplied/Jon Hewson

Thieves target church

Rachel Fenner, Mandurah Coastal TimesMandurah Coastal Times

The Reverend Ian Pearse said thieves had targeted the Uniting Church on Pinjarra Road for the second time since last year.

They stole a TV from the worship area and a laptop that was replaced via an insurance claim.

The mess they left behind took volunteers nearly a whole day to clean.

PerthNow Digital Edition.
Your local paper, whenever you want it.

Get in front of tomorrow's news for FREE

Journalism for the curious Australian across politics, business, culture and opinion.

READ NOW

Three years ago, the church was the target of break-ins nearly every month.

‘These items were paid for with donations, grants and offerings,’ Mr Pearse said. ‘There are signs saying it’s a church and all that around.

‘It’s gut wrenching.’

Mr Pearse said the church was a welfare agency offering food and bus passes to people in need.

He has been a minister at the church for 10 years.

Mr Pearse said their goal as a church was to be there for people.

‘I bet that every time this happens it comes back to drugs and alcohol, but you can’t know,’ he said.

‘The church members are a bit disheartened, knowing what we try to do within the community it’s just sad.’

Mr Pearse said they were primarily a social justice church so they would keep going on, regardless.

He thinks the person who stole their property may have slept inside the church, as there were no signs of a break in.

‘There was a sleeping bag left behind and a screwdriver had been used to smash the door,’ he said.

‘It’s funny because we had a homeless man sleeping on the patio a few days ago, it probably wouldn’t have happened if he was still here.’