HEBRON, Md. - A burglar broke into St. Paul's Episcopal Church Tuesday night in Hebron. While members of the congregation tell WBOC it doesn't appear anything is missing, there is still damage to the church caused by the suspect.
The burglar broke into the building through a large window on the side of the building. Wednesday morning there was still broken glass both outside the building, and underneath the window where the suspect climbed in. Unfortunately, getting a phone call about a burglary at her church was not a first for St. Paul's member, and treasurer, Dorothy Ruffin.
"Oh no, not again," Ruffin told WBOC that was her first thought when receiving the news. "A few years ago, they had broken in over here and they had stolen a laptop, but there's no laptop here now."
Ruffin said after a check of the building, there did not appear to be anything missing. The Wicomico County Sheriff's Office is still searching for the suspect. There was a search on Tuesday night that was unsuccessful but law enforcement officials said they are actively pursuing leads in the case. Ruffin believes with the evidence that was left behind, the suspect will be caught in no time.
"They can catch this person because there's a security system with cameras and they got a picture of the person who was doing it. And with the blood, they've got DNA and fingerprints. It's going to happen, they're going to catch somebody," Ruffin said.
This is just the latest rough spot for the small Hebron church. Ruffin talked about a robbery a few years ago. Plus, back in the summer of 2014, the congregation was forced to move into the parish house after the church caught fire and was destroyed. But Ruffin said the small, tight-knit congregation, stick together through it all.
"It's a small speed bump," Ruffin said. "It's not going to be the last one probably, but it's only a small speed bump."
Anyone with information about the burglary is asked to contact the Wicomico County Sheriff's Office at (410) 548-4891.
