Music equipment stolen from South Bay church before Christmas

SARATOGA, Calif. (KGO) -- A tragedy is still haunting a South Bay church. Just days before Christmas, thieves stole thousands of dollars' worth of musical and sound equipment, as well as irreplaceable items from the church.

It was the Sunday before Christmas and it appeared the thieves pried open doors to the Westhope Presbyterian Church in Saratoga and got in.

The church has since upgraded security, but they've suffered a huge loss.

The suspects are still at large.

Church members have been struggling to hear songs and sermons since just before Christmas. That's when thieves broke in.

"Everything was just gone," said Rev. Erik Swanson.

Thieves stole a full drum set, microphones, equalizer and mixers. Worst of all, the church's 50-year-old gold and brass communion set, was also taken.

"They're really kind of priceless artifacts," Swanson said. "Christmas is a season of giving and love and all those things, and to have somebody steal, just before it. It was crazy to me."

It was a last minute mad dash to piecemeal equipment together for Christmas Eve service, but it wasn't the same.

"That was very sad. I actually cried during service," church volunteer Janet Lee said. "Oh my gosh, we are just trying to get everything up and running."

Things haven't gotten much better since. The stolen equipment alone cost $10,000, which can't be replaced easily.

The musical director is trying to stay positive. Raina Parks said, "Who would steal from a church? And all I could hope is that they were so desperate that they needed it much more than we did."

Investigators have few leads.

Click here to help the Westhope Church raise money for new music equipment and a communion set.