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Mormon Church Vandalized In Lake Elsinore

LAKE ELSINORE (CBSLA.com) — Vandals caused approximately $5,000 in damage to a Mormon church in Riverside County over the weekend, authorities said.

Deputies responded to a burglary call at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, located in the 18000 block of Dexter Avenue in Lake Elsinore, around 7 a.m. Sunday, sheriff's officials said.

Authorities found the front glass doors shattered and several locked doors within the church, which serves about 1,200 parishioners,  pried open.

"The first thing we saw was glass, covering the foyer into the hallway," Rocky Snider said. "Then, as we came around the corner, we could see the shattered doors."

It was unclear what was stolen. Church officials said they don't believe they were targeted for religious reasons. Authorities believe the vandals may have used bricks or chucks of concrete on the doors.

"It looks like it was almost vandalism for the sake of vandalism," Snider said. "Kids."

However, investigators may have received a clue, gathering DNA evidence on Monday afternoon.

Additional information was not released.

Anyone with information should contact the RSD at (851)245-3300.

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