Crime Fighters: $2,500 reward offered in N.J. church vandalism

LINDENWOLD, N.J. (WPVI) -- On the morning of Jan. 6, Mass had just ended at Saint Lawrence Church at Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish in Lindenwold, Camden County.

"That period between 11:30 a.m. and 12, it just happened to be nobody in the church, and they took advantage of this," said Santo Montecalvo, Citizens Crime Commission.

That's when vandals struck.

"They climbed through a window, and they just destroyed the place," said Montecalvo. "They threw candles through stained glass windows, knocked down the crucifix and just for what?"

The big concern are the broken windows.

The parish priest says they are one of a kind, and he's not sure if they will be able to replicate or replace them.

"This is a senseless crime. I mean to desecrate a Catholic Church or any church, any religion, it's unnecessary," said Montecalvo.

Lindenwold police did get some latent fingerprints from a piece of the broken glass that could lead to a suspect, but they want your help, too.

"The Kal Rudman philanthropist who had posted the $2,500 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of these individuals," said Santo Montecalvo, Citizens Crime Commission.

Anyone with information can submit an anonymous tip to 215-546-TIPS.