A mosaic glass artist working inside the St. James Church in Stratford is pleading with a thief who stole his laptop to return it.

Robert Zilli says his laptop was by the mosaic mural he was working on inside the church. Zilli says he left the laptop near the mural for five minutes on Wednesday and when he returned it was gone. According to Zilli, his entire life was on the laptop, including his art work and his resume.

?That was proof that it was physically me doing every bit of work that was on there and now it?s gone,? Zilli says.

Zilli says his career has taken a big hit as a result of the theft and hopes the thief has a change of heart.

Church officials say this is the second Christmas in a row that vandals hit the church. Last year, someone smashed the crèche that was donated by a church member.