Burglary at South Shore Chicago Church, Equipment Stolen, Food Pantry Devastated

Thieves target Windsor Park Church, causing significant damage and loss

Burglars stole equipment, food from food bank from Windsor Park Church in South Shore ChicagoPhoto byScreen Capture/Youtube Video [Creator]

CHICAGO — In a pre-dawn burglary on Sunday, Windsor Park Church in South Shore was targeted by thieves who dismantled the church’s security system and made off with thousands of dollars worth of equipment. The church's food pantry, a vital community resource, was also severely affected.

The incident occurred just hours before the Sunday morning service. Church member Arlivia Williamson was the first to arrive and immediately sensed something was wrong when she saw a damaged door.

"These doors are never opened until church service," Williamson stated. "I noticed somebody had taken a hammer and beat this doorknob off. And I'm like, 'Uhhh, that doesn't look good.'"

Inside, the extent of the damage became clear. "Somebody had taken communion," Williamson noted. "They cut the sensor wire. They knocked out the lights over here at the very back of the church, so that's how they were able to get through and not be seen. Knocked the camera down."

The burglars systematically disabled the church’s security system. According to church president Will Williamson, the process likely took more than an hour. "They took a couple of cameras. They took out the internet, phone system box, so they came in and they strategically went through, disconnected the bells."

The hardest hit was the church’s food pantry, which has served over 1,000 vulnerable community members, including migrants, each month for the past 30 years. "They got in the freezers, which has left us kind of empty," Arlivia Williamson explained. "Just so much discouragement because we've worked so hard to keep things going."

With the food pantry nearly emptied, the church is now in a race against time to restock before the next service. "We've got a lot to do from now until Sunday, so we're hoping and praying that the public will hear us," said Pastor Anthony Williams.

The church is actively fundraising to replace the stolen items and replenish the food supplies. As of now, no arrests have been made.