Vandals strike Presbyterian church

Vandals spray painted pentagrams and other antireligious statements on the walls of an office and the new sanctuary of Moorpark Presbyterian Church at 13950 Peach Hill Road. The incident occurred overnight between Friday and Saturday last week, said Sgt. Will Hammer of the Moorpark Police Department.

Similar graffiti was found at Peach Hill Park, Hammer said. He suspects these crimes were committed by juveniles.

"They were sloppy pentagrams and there were spelling errors," said Hammer.

"Graffiti is one issue but marking a church with anti-religious symbols crosses the line," said Councilmember Mark Van Dam, who attends the church.

"It's very sad that kids have nothing better to do with their time than to vandalize and deface any property, especially a church whose main purpose is to reach out to the community," he said.

The culprits owe the congregation a public apology, and if they are juveniles, the parents should be held responsible to pay for the damages, Van Dam said.

Hammer asked anyone with information call the police at 532-2716.

- Sylvie Belmond