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Thief snatches church's money
By SUSAN THURSTON, Times Staff Writer TAMPA -- Every day during vacation Bible school, children at First Christian Church took turns standing in a bucket of ice. They were raising money for orphans in Russia and wanted to know what it must feel like to live through a frigid winter with no boots. On Sunday, the children presented the congregation with $350, enough to buy about 10 pairs of boots. Everyone cheered. "It was a big deal," said music director Kurt Knecht, whose children took part. A few hours later, the money was stolen, along with the $5,000 to $7,000 from the weekly collection plate. Virginia Mikell was taking the donations to her car about 12:20 p.m. when a teenage boy on a bicycle grabbed the blue duffel bag containing the money. "I'm sure he thought it was my personal possessions, but it certainly was not," said Mikell, a longtime member of the Hyde Park church. Mikell, 79, said the thief rode off before anyone could get a good description. Church officials immediately called police, but he got away. The boy was maybe 13 years old and well-dressed. In her two years handling donations, Mikell said, nothing like this has happened. She feels terrible for the church and the children, many of whom dipped into their allowances to help the orphans. Mikell hopes the boy discarded the bag and someone finds it. She had the cash in a separate plastic bag in the duffel bag. The rest of the donations were in individual envelopes. Fortunately, many of the donations were personal checks. Mikell also lost her wallet. Members were shocked about the theft in a church parking lot, especially after Sunday worship. "He probably had no idea what he was getting," Knecht said. -- Susan Thurston can be reached at 226-3394 or thurston@sptimes.com.
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