The Holy Trinity Ukrainian Orthodox Church in Prince Albert was recently the victim of a break-in. (submitted photo/Terry Oleksyn)

By Charlene Tebbutt

church break-in

Local church members disappointed over recent break-in

Apr 26, 2019 | 5:25 PM

As Ukrainians of the Orthodox faith celebrate Easter this weekend, members of one local church congregation are voicing their frustration over a recent break-in and theft that left them without some expensive lawn care equipment.

A number of gardening tools were taken from a storage shed at the Holy Trinity Ukrainian Orthodox Church in the Midtown area of Prince Albert earlier this week. Parish President Terry Oleksyn said some of the items taken include hedge clippers, line trimmers, a can of gas, and oil.

Parishioners have been busy at the church all week preparing for Easter celebrations, Oleksyn said. The suspects were unable to cut the lock off the door, but did cut the hinges and some of the hardware off the door to get inside, he said.

“This is Holy Week,” Oleksyn said. “Hopefully it’s just a random act. I’m guessing it’s somebody who took them to use for their stuff at home, but maybe I’m wrong.”

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Volunteers and parishioners at Holy Trinity Church participate in regular perogy-making bees to raise funds. (submitted photo/Terry Oleksyn)

Oleksyn said the value of the stolen tools is about $1,000. Church parishioners raised the fund for the expensive equipment through perogy sales and their popular monthly perogy dinner, making the theft especially disappointing.

“Our funds to keep the church open are entirely from our perogy suppers and people know us for our perogy suppers and frozen sales,” Oleksyn added. “It’s all volunteer work and the balance is donations … our congregation’s older and I know how hard they work to keep the perogy bees going.”

Local Coun. Evert Botha represents Ward 3, in which the church is located. The area is also home to an active neighbourhood watch program. Botha declined to comment when contacted by paNOW.

A report earlier this year to the city’s Board of Police Commissioners said the Ward 3 neighbourhood watch program has led to increased awareness about crime in the area. Statistics show the Midtown area routinely sees the highest number of calls by police each month, and more crimes are being reported to police.

Residents in other wards around the city are also interested in starting their own neighbourhood watch programs, the report added.

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Charlene.tebbutt@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @CharleneTebbutt