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Security now a part of life in aftermath of church robbery

3 min read
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Police booking photo of Robert James Aponte after being charged in one of the recent church air conditioning unit thefts in the area.

In the last three months, numerous churches and non-profit centers have been burglarized in North Fort Myers. The target? Air conditioning units.

They may bring in only $40 to $100 when sold, but to the churches, they take thousands of dollars to replace.

One man — Robert James Aponte — was arrested after deputies allegedly saw him tamper with an air conditioner at First Baptist Church on Evergreen Road.

He was charged with burglary of an unoccupied dwelling, larceny grand theft and resisting an officer.

Officials from the Lee County Sheriff’s Office have not been able to charge him or others with additional robberies, saying that only when a person is suspected in a similar crime, do they come under investigation.

It took Mother Andrea, whose charges are Saint Nicholas Monastery and The Church of the Holy Prophet Moses Church in North Fort Myers, many hours of contemplation to know what she wanted to say about the recent devasting burglaries.

She estimated their loss at approximately $26,000.

She said three air conditioning units, and a seemingly separate BB gunshot to a window that was not included in insurance, adds up.

And that was not all. Organic fruit was picked from trees in the middle of the night that was earmarked to add funds to the small, local ministry.

Equipment that contributes to their bee and honey operation was also stolen.

Her bottomline — she has had to take several steps toward helping to beef up security, but the loss will take many many years to recoup.

“Teach us to pray, to believe, to hope, to be patient, to forgive and love,” she said, quoting Elder Moses of Optina, who started a famous monastery in Russia, in her contemplated response to recent events.

“I love this saint and look to his life for guidance,” she said.

She admits to having other thoughts about eternal consequences to this type of theft, one that will hinder her church in helping others.

But members of her faith — Russian Orthodox — then offered to help, along with community members.

A security company called Hawk Security Systems Inc. have offered security measures. They are installing cages around the new air conditioning units when they can get them — something that costs a lot, Mother Andrea noted.

What is also encouraging is that several local volunteers have come forward to help with security by patrolling the area.

“We’ve have also had different types of donations,” she said, adding that she is aware of how the economy is affecting many. “For example, a woman in Orlando — Olga King, owner of The Villa People — came forward.”

Mother Andrea said King, owner of a rental vacation spot, noted that when vacationers buy dish soap, detergent, toilet paper and paper towels, they sometimes don’t take them when they leave.

When appropriate, Mother Andrea takes the donations from King who sends them down to North Fort Myers to help families in need.

The Church of the Holy Prophet Moses is located at Saint Nicholas Monaster, an Orthodox Christian monastery for women.

The address for The Church of the Holy Prophet Moses is located on Evergreen Road in North Fort Myers.

Donations can be mailed to 1340 Piney Road, North Fort Myers, FL 33903-3822.

For more information on the services, call the church at 997-2847.