2 Boys Arrested in $700,000 Vandalism of RV Factory : Saugus: The firm’s owner says he found the youngsters in the building. A sheriff’s lieutenant says they admitted damaging motor homes.

Sheriff’s deputies have arrested two boys, ages 12 and 14, on suspicion of burglary and causing about $700,000 in vandalism last week at a Saugus recreational vehicle factory by starting up 15 motor homes and crashing them, authorities said Sunday.

The boys, both residents of the Santa Clarita Valley, were arrested Saturday after they apparently returned to the factory.

The two were caught by the firm’s owner, Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Lt. Harvey Cantor said.

Rexhall Industrial Inc. owner Bill Rex said he found the two boys driving a forklift inside the building. “They were actually getting ready to smash something with it,” he said.

Rex called sheriff’s deputies, who arrested the boys.

“When you stop to think two children can cause this amount of damage, it’s mind-boggling,” Cantor said.

In interviews with authorities, the boys, who were released to the custody of their parents pending a Juvenile Court hearing, admitted “damaging the motor homes previously,” Cantor said. The boys’ parents could be forced to pay for the damages, Cantor said. The names of the boys were not released because of their ages.

The pair told authorities that they first started visiting the building when it was used for movie sets. It appeared that the boys entered the Rexhall factory by bending back part of the metal wall, Rex said.

Rex said the building, which his company has occupied for about 18 months, previously housed sets for the movie “Tango and Cash.”

When the boys discovered that movie sets had been replaced by motor homes, they decided to look inside one, Cantor said. The keys to the motor homes are normally left in the ignition, Rex said.

“They crashed into the building and other motor homes until it stopped running,” Cantor said.

Then the vandals apparently started up other motor homes and crashed them, Cantor said.

On Friday morning, employees discovered about $40,000 in damage to each of the 15 motor homes stored in the company’s 106,000-square-foot building. There was an additional $100,000 in damage to equipment and the building.

Intruders returned Friday night, Rex said, and stole two televisions and two videocassette recorders.

Rex said he discovered the boys when he went to check the warehouse about 5 p.m. Saturday and show a friend the damage.

“As we got up close to the building, we heard a forklift running,” Rex said. “I said, ‘There’s somebody in there.’ He grabbed a 2-by-4. I grabbed a bar.”

Rex said he had had no idea who was responsible for the vandalism but had suspected disgruntled employees. He said he had caught some employees stealing microwaves from the vehicles and had them arrested. He had also mentioned disputes with others over workers’ compensation claims.

“We thought it was someone retaliating against us because there was so much devastation and it seemed so deliberate,” Rex said.

He added: “The sadness of it being children like this is devastating.”