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CLINTON, Utah (AP) -- When a 4-year-old boy heard his older sibling bragging, he told their mom.
That led to five children, ages 9 to 11, winding up at the Clinton police station Tuesday, where they confessed to vandalism at a new recreation building, said police Lt. Dave Valentine.
Estimates of the damage ranged from $500 to several thousand. It will depend on what can be repaired and what needs to be replaced, said City Manager Dennis Cluff.
The building was opened in May as part of the West Clinton Park's Little League.
The three boys and two girls told police that on Sunday they used a crowbar to pry open a door and break the lock in the concession stand to sneak inside.
The children admitted breaking off smoke alarms, damaging the electrical, heating and air-conditioning sensors, scratching countless doors and smashing the cash register before hauling away about $40 worth of candy, Valentine said.
On Monday, they returned to the park, went to the women's restroom, covered the walls with graffiti and stuffed toilet paper down the toilets, flooding the building, Valentine said.
Four of the five have been referred to the city's youth court. The fifth already had been to youth court, and will go to juvenile court, Valentine said.
(Copyright 2004 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
