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PROVO, Utah (AP) -- Six children have been arrested for investigation of vandalism of the vacant St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church here, police said.
The two girls and four boys are between the ages of 11 and 14. Their names were not released.
Tom George, a real estate broker acting as the church's agent, called police Friday night after he noticed the damage to the church, including broken stained-glass windows and a foul message taped to teddy bear. The damage was estimated at $15,000 by police.
"I am surprised and relieved that they caught them," George said Monday. "I hope that this would stop any ongoing acts of vandalism."
The windows were broken from the inside, and the door was locked. But, George said, there may be extra keys at large because the building has had other tenants. The church has also had transients seek refuge in the building, but there has been no associated vandalism, he said.
Marijuana was also found in the church, but George said the pot wasn't in a part of the building where the vandals had been.
The church was dedicated in 1936 and registered as a Provo historic landmark. It has been for sale for six years and has not been used by anyone in several months, he said.
George was last inside the church Sept. 1, when he showed the property to two groups of potential buyers. Days before the vandalism, the church accepted an offer of $1.2 million for the property, he said. The buyers have been told about the damage, he said.
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Information from: The Daily Herald, http://www.heraldextra.com
(Copyright 2006 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
