Reward Offered

Red Ridge United Methodist wants information on persons responsible for recent break-in

By Dale Liesch | Dadeville Record

Published Wednesday, November 12, 2008

The Red Ridge United Methodist Church on Highway 34 near Dadeville has been the victim of three separate incidents in less than a year and the congregation is now stepping in to see what it can do to end the streak.

After three separate incidents, including two burglaries and a robbery of a custodian in less than a year, Burt French, chairman of the church’s administrative council said the congregation is fed up with the problem and has posted a $1,000 reward for information that will lead to the arrest and conviction of those responsible.

“We have had enough as far as the incidents go,” French said. “We thought we needed to do something to help. We wanted to find a way to put a stop to this.”

According to Tallapoosa County Sheriff Jimmy Abbett, the church was a victim of two burglaries and an armed robbery of a custodian from Dec. 2007 until Nov. 5, 2008.

In the first burglary, occurring in December, Abbett said nothing was stolen from the church but the building did sustain damage to one of the doors. In Jan. 2008, a church custodian was robbed at gunpoint walking into the church.

The most recent burglary was reported on Nov. 6 and some high ticket items including a television, computer monitor and other things were taken. Abbett said through an investigation, the department believes that incident is tied to a burglary three miles away at Lake Martin Baptist Church where nothing was taken.

“We believe both of those burglaries happened on the night of Nov. 5 sometime after 8:30 p.m.,” Abbett said. “Anyone seeing vehicles or people walking in that general are at that time can notify us.”

Abbett said he supports the idea of the reward because it can help the department develop a suspect in the cases.

“Rewards are very good,” Abbett said. “Anything that can help us identify suspects is a good thing.”