ITHACA, N.Y. — A break in occurred at Bethlehem Church of Jesus Christ on Cecil Malone Drive in Ithaca, New York, on Thursday, February 24th, just before 8 p.m.
Initially responding to a commercial burglary alarm, Ithaca Police Department officers reported an unsecured basement door before establishing a perimeter and clearing the building.
The church’s rear entry locks were discovered to have been drilled, with the door showing evidence of an attempt at being forced open.
The church is located in Ithaca’s West End, near homeless encampments known locally as ‘The Jungle.’ Ithaca’s West End is plagued by violence, drug use, burglary & theft.
Additionally, the Ithaca Arthaus, a West End low-income housing project not far from the church, is the subject of more police calls than any location in the city. A ribbon cutting event at the Arthaus occurred less than one year ago.
Anyone with information is encouraged to contact the Ithaca Police Department via any of the following means: Police Dispatch at 607-272-3245, Police Administration at 607-272-9973, Police Tipline at 607-330-0000, or the anonymous email tip address at www.cityofithaca.org/ipdtips.
