It’s been at least five years since Scott Noon has seen this many thefts at Redmond’s Overlake Christian Church, 9900 Willows Rd. NE.

“We haven’t had theft activity like this in quite a while, probably five or six years,” said Noon, the church’s facilities director.

A 50-inch Panasonic flatscreen television was stolen sometime last week — the latest in a string of concerning crimes — and church officials believe the television theft occurred when the church was open. Last month, a rented moving truck, packed with more than $40,000 worth of camping and electronics equipment, was stolen right before the church’s annual youth camping trip to Wenatchee. Then on Aug. 15, wallets were stolen out of two different unattended purses.

“I think it’s desperate times and these were desperate actions,” Noon said. “We are more on our guard now. We are upping the alertness of our staff members.”

With no signs of a break-in, Noon said he believes the television theft happened sometime last Thursday evening, during a time when the church is open until 10 p.m. for several different group meetings.

There are staff members on site during the meetings, Noon said, but they can’t be everywhere at once. The television was mounted on the wall in the family area of the church on the second floor. Noon said the thief had to use tools to dismount the television from the wall. An adjacent television was also tampered with, but not stolen, said Noon, who added that the second television has been taken down from the wall and put away.

“We are working on theft deterent for that one,” he said.

Noon said he believes the purse and television thefts are connected, based on witness reports.

The crimes have definitely heightened crime prevention awareness at the community church, according to Noon.

“We’re are definitely keeping an eye out,” he said. “We’re hoping this can come to an end.”