Help Needed To Identify Church Vandals; Reward of up to $1,000 Offered

San Diego County Crime Stoppers and investigators from Ramona Sheriff’s substation are asking for assistance from the public in identifying any suspects wanted in connection with several vandalisms and thefts at churches in Ramona.

Investigators reported that in a span of two months, the air conditioning units of four churches in Ramona have been vandalized and recyclable items have been stolen. One of those churches, Immaculate Heart of Mary, has been hit three times by thieves targeting copper and aluminum, according to a news release.

The first church targeted by thieves was the Church of Latter Day Saints, at 527 9th St. Sometime between Nov. 24 and 25, 2011, an unknown suspect dismantled one air conditioning unit, damaged another by crimping a copper wire and letting out all of the Freon, and stole about 40 feet of copper piping and wiring from two other units. A total of four air conditioning units were vandalized.

Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church, at 537 E St. was targeted three times between Nov. 26, 2011 and Jan. 25. Between Nov. 26 and 27, it was discovered that an unknown suspect dismantled three air conditioning units and stole the aluminum and copper evaporator coils found inside. On Dec. 1, it was reported that someone vandalized one of the air conditioning units by cutting the Freon line. On Dec. 20, it was discovered that an unknown suspect damaged an industrial heat pump by taking the copper pipes. The damage was so severe that the unit may have to be replaced at a cost of over $30,000.

The third church was The Way Church, at 838 Hanson Lane. On Nov. 30, it was discovered that someone disassembled an air conditioning unit and stole copper pipes and tubes.

The fourth church was St. Mary’s in the Valley Episcopal Church, at 1010 12th St. On Jan. 26, it was reported that a suspect stole a condenser coil from an outdoor air conditioning unit. It will cost about $6,000 to fix the unit.

The total damage caused by these thieves is more than $44,000.

Investigators are asking anyone with information on the identity and/or location of the people responsible for these crimes to call the Crime Stoppers anonymous tip line at (888) 580‐ 8477. Crime Stoppers is offering up to a $1,000 reward to anyone with information that leads to an arrest in these cases. Anonymous email and text messages can be sent in via www.sdcrimestoppers.com.

The qualification of any person(s) for the reward and the amount of the reward for any person(s) so qualifying will be determined by San Diego County Crime Stoppers, Inc., in its sole discretion. The amount of all rewards given shall not exceed $1,000.