An air-conditioning unit was discovered detached, and staged for removal, from the main building at St. Paul’s Armenian Apostolic Church in Waukegan. Police department officials have stated the investigation remains open. (Photo by Gregory Harutunian/for Chronicle Media)

A massive air-conditioning unit was found disconnected, and ready for removal, by landscapers who arrived ahead of several parishioners at Waukegan’s St. Paul Armenian Apostolic Church in an apparent theft attempt. Police investigators suspected that the unit may have been detached in the early morning hours May 28, and staged for eventual transport.

“These are bad times, people are hungry and they will do anything to put food on their table,” said the Rev. Daron Stephanian, the church’s pastor.  “This is a terrible thing, and these are terrible times.”

Landscapers alerted church board members, after discovering the unit was moved from its base. The circuit breaker switch was pulled, electrical wires cut, along with the refrigerant line being sawed off and pinched. A coterie of parishioners were preparing for Memorial Day observances at several cemeteries, when news of the damage was relayed to them.

“This happened at 8 a.m., when the workers found everything was severed and almost ready for pick-up,” said Dr. Alta Mekaelian, the church board’s chairperson. “It was just a feeling of shock and dismay … for a church this small, and for anyone to do something like that. They probably checked out the place before they did anything.”

The church, located at 645 S. Lewis Ave., had endured a similar theft and damage to property nearly five years ago, when thieves successfully stole a primary and secondary air-conditioning unit. “Chains were used to wrap around both assemblies. They were yanked from the building, and stolen,” said Mekaelian.

Waukegan police department evidence technicians investigated the scene, and gleaned data for analysis. “This is really shameful, and the investigations bureau is continuing their due diligence,” said Police Cmdr. Joe Florip. “This is an open investigation, and leads are being pursued.”

Mekaelian also said the investigation included canvassing several nearby businesses and a middle school in proximity with the church’s parking lot for footage on surveillance cameras, following the timeframe of the attempted theft. It was also theorized the unit may have been sought for salvage value on its metal components.

“At this point, we’re reaching out to neighbors and the community for possible information,” said Mekaelian. “We’re also contacting security firms to discuss motion-detection cameras in an effort to dissuade future issues of this type from happening again.

The church was founded in 1966, and will celebrate its 50^th anniversary in November, with a community event. Church services had been held for decades in a side chapel at the Christ Episcopal Church on Grand Avenue in Waukegan. St. George Armenian Apostolic Church, located at 1015 N. McAree Road serves another Armenian congregation in Waukegan.

“St. Paul’s has about 50 people attending services, with about half in dues-paying members,” said Mekaelian. “We are funded totally through bake sales, picnics, as well as dedicated members and friends through individual donations.

“For a small church like ours, this is devastating from a financial standpoint, let alone, someone stealing from a place of worship,” she said.