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Summarized by Kent Larsen
Beaverton, Oregon LDS Chapels Vandalized
Portland OR Oregonian 11Jul00 D1
By Eric Collins: The Oregonian staff
PORTLAND, OREGON -- A string of 10 church break-ins in Beaverton and
surrounding areas during the weekend included 6 LDS Church buildings,
leading police to offer a $2,000 reward for information about the vandals.
All 10 of the churches were ransacked and had equipment destroyed by the
vandals, who entered the buildings through broken or forced-open windows or
doors.
The rash of break-ins occurred between Friday and Saturday night and
included churches in Tigard, Oregon, as well as Beaverton and unicorporated
portions of Washington county. The LDS Church building on NW West Union in
Beaverton was heavily damaged because the vandals sprayed a fire
extinguisher throughout the building and ransacked the building's offices.
The break-ins were similar to six break-ins that occurred in mid-June, but
police haven't positively connected the June break-ins with the ones this
past weekend.
Police say that the break-ins seem to be the work of either a prankster or
someone with a vendetta, according to Sgt. Marlene Gaskins, but that they
don't view the break-ins as hate crimes. However, they do believe that the
10 break-ins this past weekend are connected, "I'm comfortable with the
belief that there has got to be some connection. There's too many for it to
be coincidental," said Gaskins.
See also:
Authorities investigate string of church vandalism
KATU TV2 Portland OR 10Jul00 D1
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