Vandals strike 10 LDS chapels in LV

Thursday, Dec. 19, 2002 | 9:31 a.m.

Detectives in Metro Police's property crimes unit are looking for help from the public in their investigation into a series of burglaries at 10 Mormon chapels over the past year.

Eight Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints facilities on the west side of Las Vegas and two on the east side were broken into between Dec. 26, 2001, and Nov. 18, Sgt. Matt McCarthy said.

Two juveniles were arrested in April for breaking into a building at 1101 N. Pecos Road and a woman was arrested in May for damaging a chapel at Walnut Road and Carey Avenue.

The incidents aren't related, McCarthy said, and nothing was reported stolen from any of the buildings.

"They are prying the doors and windows open, looking through offices and destroying file cabinets," he said.

The 10 houses of worship sustained a total of $100,000 in damage.

Chapels at 10550 Alta Drive, 7800 Alta Drive, 221 Lorenzi St. and 6200 Alta Drive were all victimized twice. Chapels at 110 N. Pecos Road and another at Walnut Road and Carey Avenue were also broken into, along with several others, police said.

"We don't know if they're targeting Latter-day Saints churches," McCarthy said. "It could be a bunch of kids, or it could be people who are angry with the church."

Anyone with information is asked to call Secret Witness at 385-5555 or McCarthy at 229-3573.