"They cut the wires:" Theft of copper wiring leaves church in the dark; and that's not all thieves took



MILWAUKEE -- A Milwaukee church was in the dark on Tuesday, October 6th thanks to a brazen overnight theft. Not only was the copper wiring stripped from the building, but church members say thieves were on the roof -- stealing something else.

"We're looking for help right now," Rafe Perry, minister said.

Mother Scott's Christian Youth Center.



The power was out on Tuesday at Mother Scott's Christian Youth Center.

Church members discovered it on Tuesday morning -- hours before a daily meal was set to be served to the public.

"We serve a breakfast and we serve a lunch. We feed between 50 and 100 people a day. Usually the dining area would be full," Perry said.

We Energies officials showed up at the church and figured out how the power was cut. Copper wiring was stripped from the building.

"They cut the wires. If you look -- they cut the wires. Who plays with high-voltage electricity unless you know what you're doing? This is no kids' stuff," Perry said.

Mother Scott's Christian Youth Center.



And the copper wiring isn't all these vandals got away with.

Mother Scott's Christian Youth Center.



Milwaukee police say an air conditioning unit was boosted from the roof.

All of this is now impacting the daily meals served at the church.

Even though the church was in the dark on Tuesday, staff members continued their mission.

"We still kept the doors open. We followed our same routine. We didn't have any hot food to serve the people, but we did, by the grace of God, able to serve them cold sandwiches," Marcia Perkins, a volunteer at the church said.

"We're worried about spoiling. We have meats in there. We have produce. We have dairy products that we just got donated," Oliver Sellers, church staff member said.

Mother Scott's Christian Youth Center.



FOX6 News has learned a contractor has helped to rewire the church, allowing We Energies to get power flowing again.

Milwaukee police estimate the theft totals $5,000.