Two boys, ages 9 and 10, are accused of causing more than $10,000 in damages to vehicles belonging to Emmanuel Community Church in Berkeley Township, N.J.
Police say the young boys vandalized a church bus, two vans and a trailer outside the Ocean County church on Saturday afternoon.
“It’s unfortunate that this would occupy kids’ time,” said Pastor Don Meckley, Emmanuel Community Church in an exclusive interview with NBC10 Jersey Shore Bureau reporter Ted Greenberg.
Police say the vehicles were graffitied and windows smashed. The church mail was also thrown all over the street and investigators tell NBC10 that one of the boys lives in the neighborhood.
“This is very young. For the amount of damage they did, this is very young children,” said Chief Karin DiMichele, Berkeley Township Police.
Police say they were alerted by a neighbor who called them after spotting the boys by the church. They allegedly ran into the woods when officers showed up but were quickly found.
The boys are charged with burglary, criminal mischief and resisting arrest. They were released to relatives.
“If they don’t turn from this, you can just imagine, it could get worse, bigger, as they go down the road of life," said Pastor Meckley.
