Thieves broke into a small Dix Hills church to steal copper pipes and tubing twice in two days, church members say.

Joan Hommel, active member of the non-denominational Half Hollow Community Church, says the back doors of the church were open when she arrived Tuesday morning.

Hommel says she found the downstairs office space a mess with water all over the floor because the pipes had been torn out of the wall. She says copper from water pipes and from pipes behind the walls was missing.

Church member Charles Hommel says the congregation is made up largely of senior citizens and has very little money. The church now has no heat or access to a bathroom. He hopes to get everything up and running again by Easter.

Hommel says the thieves struck again the next night in the recreation room. Police say they are investigating.