Now he says that help may take longer after a medical bag, and ropes used in rescues were stolen.

“If you were to have a car wreck down an embankment – either to help us get to you or to help you get out,” he said.

He says the ropes are valued at more than $10,000, and the medical bag about $1,000.

“You already barely have enough money to buy everything you want to buy everything you want to take care of everybody.”

He says now — they’d have to contact a neighboring department for help if the ropes were needed.

“You’ll have a delayed response because of course they’re farther away so ultimately it’s hurting the community.”

This wasn’t the first theft there; thieves broke in earlier this year as well.

“They took all the power equipment.”

This time the suspects were caught on tape, though they tried to avoid that by spray painting one of the outdoor cameras.

The purchase consists of six property tracts, including Immanuel Baptist Temple building and the church's three-story education wing. According to the resolution, the city will enter into a five-year lease agreement for the Answer Center property next door.

"The Answer Center is still using that building," said Mayor Steve Austin. "As a help to that organization to low-income families in our community, we are going to continue their lease on that property just so they'll have a place to operate out of and do their services."

Looking to consolidate with Audubon Baptist Church, IBT listed their 48,114-square-foot church and three-story education wing for $2.5 million through Hahn Kiefer Real Estate Services in Evansville when it first came onto the market in 2015. The adjacent, two-story Answer Center building and the adjoining property on First Street were part of the offer as well.