Boys arrested for breaking into Santa Rosa Bible Church

(KRON) — Two boys, ages 14 and 15, broke into Santa Rosa Bible Church over the weekend and left a path of destruction behind, police said.

Santa Rosa Police Department officers were called to the church at 4575 Badger Road on Sunday morning. Church employees told officers that “two teen boys had entered the campus through an unsecured door and proceeded to throw items around and break a toilet in a bathroom, defecate on the bathroom floor, and urinate on the gymnasium floor. The boys also intentionally damaged the brand-new children’s play structure outside.”

The church’s surveillance cameras helped to quickly identify who the boys were, according to SRPD.

Later Sunday morning, a 14-year-old Santa Rosa boy was arrested and booked into juvenile hall for burglary and vandalism. His cousin, a 15-year-old Danville boy, was the second burglar, police said.

The Danville boy was driven by his parent to surrender at the Santa Rosa police station. He was also booked into juvenile hall. Law enforcement officials did not release the boys’ names publicly because they are minors.

In the wake of the church burglary, SRPD wrote a message to young people in the community. The message stated, “We know you’re growing, learning, and figuring things out — but here’s something that always matters: respecting other people’s property. Breaking into homes, schools, or businesses, or tagging and vandalizing buildings and property might seem like ‘no big deal’ in the moment. But it hurts real people and damages the community we all share.”

The police department’s message continued, “You have the power to make better choices. Be the kind of person who lifts up your community — not one who tears it down.”