
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: SATURDAY, July 9, 1994                   TAG: 9407120083
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: C3   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: By DIANE STRUZZI STAFF WRITER
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Short

VANDALS HIT CHURCH IN SALEM

A small fire was set at Our Lady of Perpetual Help in Salem on Thursday or early Friday, the second incident of vandalism at the Catholic church in the past week, Salem authorities said.

Between 4 p.m. Thursday and 8 a.m. Friday, a candle was placed between the front double doors of the church, charring the bottom of the structure. Damage is estimated at $1,000.

On Sunday night, the family life center at the church was broken into by smashing through a rear window. Electronic equipment and religious items were taken, according to police and the church's pastor, the Rev. Gregory Kandt.

Kandt said the burglars broke through locked doors at the center and took jewelry and other items from a religious shop. He said the total value of the stolen items was about $1,700.

A jungle gym at Bethel Baptist Church, 1601 Colorado St., was defaced with felt-tip marker sometime Tuesday. Salem police Sgt. Mike Fisher said the incident appeared to be done by "kids playing" and did not seem to be linked to the burglary at Our Lady of Perpetual Help.

Sunday's burglary at the Catholic church was the fourth such incident in three years, Kandt said.

Fisher said that the church, at 314 Turner Road, is in an area with easy access, making it a target.

by CNB