A burglar broke into the Brookhaven Outreach Ministries sometime between Christmas Eve and Thursday afternoon, stealing an orange BMX bicycle, said Chief of Police Bobby Bell Friday.

The burglary occurred just days after the center gave away close to 200 bicycles to children as part of a food/toy charitable event.

Brookhaven police received the call Thursday afternoon at approximately 4 p.m. after the Rev. Jerry Durr, who directs the center, noticed that a door on the northwest side of the center had been pried open.

“They must have used a crowbar or something to get in,” said Durr.

Besides taking one of two bikes that were left over from last Friday’s give-a-away, Durr says the intruder(s) also rolled out a shopping buggy.

“I suspect they took something else but don’t know just yet what it was,” said Durr.

This is the second time in the last three months that the center has been broken into, according to Durr.

“Of all the places to break into, it doesn’t make sense,” Durr said. “Why, here?”

Last Friday, volunteers with Faith Presbyterian Church and Walmart Distribution assisted Durr and others with the ministry in providing 186 families with food and close to 200 boys and girls with toys, including bicycles.