Juveniles Apprehended in Connection With Church Crime

Police in Lake Elsinore today took three juveniles into custody in connection with the vandalism of a church that caused more than $60,000 in damage, according to a news release from the Riverside County Sheriff's Department.

The crime occurred during the nighttime hours of Monday at the First Lutheran Church in the 600 block of Sumner Avenue. The damage included broken windows and water damage caused by a garden hose that was deliberately placed through a broken window with the water left running for several hours.

This act of vandalism is believed to be random and committed by neighborhood juveniles, and is not believed to be motivated solely by hate, police said. The names of the juveniles are not being released due to their ages.

Lake Elsinore Police detectives are continuing their investigation and are actively seeking out witnesses to the crime. Anyone with information regarding this incident is encouraged to contact the Lake Elsinore Police Department at 951-245-3300.