SANTA ROSA, Calif. (AP) -- Authorities say a group of boys broke into a Santa Rosa preschool, vandalized the classroom and tortured a hamster to death.

The boys, who range in age from 11 to 14, are in juvenile custody after being caught shortly after the Saturday night break-in.

Sonoma County Sheriff's Sgt. Michael Raasch told The Press Democrat that the boys entered the YMCA preschool through a broken window. He says the suspects spread food everywhere, broke chairs, wrote gang graffiti on the walls and tortured the class hamster, which later died.

A woman playing volleyball with her family on school grounds called 911 and helped deputies track them down.

Each boy has been booked on suspicion of vandalism. Two 13-year-olds also face cruelty charges, and a 14-year-old faces a burglary charge.

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