5 juveniles arrested in Calif. school break in, hamster torture

(CBS/KCBS) SANTA ROSA, Calif. - Santa Rosa authorities arrested 5 boys, ages 11 to 14, who they say vandalized classrooms and tortured a hamster to death after breaking into Northwest Prep Saturday evening.

The intruders left a path of destruction behind, including an overturned refrigerator, broken windows, walls tagged with gang graffiti, a torn up vegetable garden and a dying hamster, said Sgt. Mike Raasch.

In regards to the hamster Raasch would only say, "It was bad. They did three different cruel things to it."

A woman playing volleyball at the school called 911 and helped identify some of the suspects, authorities say.

Two 11-year-old boys were reportedly arrested on suspicion of felony vandalism and released to their mothers.

Two 13-year-old boys and a 14-year-old boy were arrested for burglary, vandalism and booked into juvenile hall, according to Sgt. Raasch. The 13-year-old boys were also arrested on suspicion of animal cruelty, Raasch said.

Authorities say the young suspects do not attend Northwest Prep., which serves 143 students grades 7-12.