Idaho Falls church vandalized

Idaho Falls police need your help finding who’s responsible for breaking into and vandalizing the Centro Evangelistico Cristo Para Las Naciones church.

Church leaders estimate the vandals caused nearly $40,000 in damage.

The vandals broke a window and stole thousands of dollars of equipment, including sound equipment, computers, drum sets and guitars.

But they didn’t just steal. Vandals ripped dozens of Bibles, scrawled “666” all over a little boys’ classroom, and performed witchcraft with a dead bird, church leaders said. And they don’t think it was just a burglary, but a hate crime.

“A lot of the people that come here they are really humble people they are people that work in the farms and stuff like that, and they are always faithful,” said Brenda Leyba of the church. “So we feel that it’s not just an attack to the church, but to every family that comes here.”

The church does not have insurance, so it will have to foot the bill for much of the damages. If you want to help, the church will accept donations at any Wells Fargo Branch under the Centro Evangelistico Inc. fund. There’s also a gofundme account that can be found athttp://www.gofundme.com/sgv9suc?hc_location=ufi

Anyone with information about this crime is encouraged to contact Idaho Falls police at (208) 529-1200 or Crimestoppers at 522-1983.