Thieves break into church to gain entry to pharmacy

BOSTON (WHDH) -- Investigators says thieves broke into a church on Humboldt Ave. Wednesday, leaving a gaping hole in its wall in order to gain entry to a pharmacy next door where they stole drugs and money.

The thieves not only stole from the pharmacy, but stole money from the church safe as well.

The congregation of The Ministry Christ in the Family stood guard at the front door Wednesday afternoon, unnerved by the break in early Wednesday morning.

“Someone came during the night around 4:30 in the morning, decided to barge in through the door and break through the wall to get to the pharmacy,” said Jacob Martinez, pastor’s son.

Church members say the robbers stole drugs, pills, and money from Prime Pharmacy.

It wasn’t the first time the pharmacy was broken into, but to see the gaping holes the thieves cut in the church wall to get there was another story.

I was really mad at a point, but then the first thing that came to mind is Lord have mercy on them, they don't know what they're doing for the most part,” said Jacob Martinez.

The saws they used were left behind and sat on top of bags filled with debris the pastor and his congregants were left to clean up. The pastor doesn't know if the robbers had been to his church before but says they knew what they were doing.

“We try to do our best for the community. Somebody else -- they don’t have a conscience,” said Pastor Eligao Martinez.

The robbers also broke into his back office, stole a heavy safe and the $400 that was locked inside it. The pastor says police have surveillance video from neighboring stores of the robbers in action at the front door and that they will eventually get caught.

“They’re doing something wrong. They’re taking money from God, so they got to pay for it. I don’t wish them worse, but nobody plays with God,” Pastor Martinez said.

The church will have its normal church services Thursday.