Woodland Hills Church Hit by a Barrage of Vandalism

For the fourth time this month, and sixth time this summer, a Woodland Hills pastor found his church damaged by an unknown vandal who often signs his work with graffiti monikers, Los Angeles police reported Tuesday.

“This is getting very serious,” said the Rev. B. Douglas Lubbers of the Woodland Hills Presbyterian Church at 5751 Platt Ave. “It is mystifying to me. I wish I knew why the church is the target of this.”

Police also wish they knew. According to police reports on the four incidents since Aug. 5, vandalism at the church has included graffiti, walls spattered by paint pellets, slashed window screens, damaged door locks and smashed van windows. The incidents have caused about $5,000 worth of damage, Lubbers said.

The first two incidents, which occurred in June and July, were not reported to police because damage was minor and church officials did not expect them to develop into a continuing pattern, Lubbers said.

As a result, police said, they will step up patrols in the area. And Lubbers has asked his 280 congregation members to watch the church when they are in the neighborhood.

“It is not a minor thing when it keeps happening,” Detective Tim Yost said. “I don’t know why anyone would keep doing this to a church, but it keeps getting bombarded. They paint the place and then they get vandalized and then they have to paint again. It’s terrible.”

The most recent cases were reported Saturday and Tuesday, when Lubbers discovered freshly painted exterior church walls splotched with blue paint pellets.

Police said they believe the vandalism is the work of one person because the acts are similar, including paintings of the nickname “Felex 88” and the letters WQZ crisscrossed by arrows. On one occasion the graffiti included a slur against the church.

Police said they do not believe the vandalism is the work of gang members because the moniker has not been found elsewhere in the West Valley.

Grudge Against Church

“It looks as if it is somebody who has something against this particular church,” said Lt. William Gaida. “There is nothing that indicates what that is.”

After the latest vandalism was discovered, Lubbers was clearly frustrated.

“Whoever it is uses a different color paint each time,” he said. “We’ve had red and white. This time it was blue.”

Lubbers said the church, which is undergoing a $500,000 renovation, will soon have an electronic security system and possibly exterior spotlights.

He may also ask his congregation to initiate a more formal “church watch,” in which members volunteer to take turns watching the property.

“We will have to evaluate what has happened,” he said. “If we have to go to that, we will.”