Turner – Police say four teenagers were responsible for damaging buses at Calvary Christian Church in Turner two days before Christmas.

The buses were parked in a lot on the church’s property on Route 4.

The boys vandalized six buses in all, causing extensive damage, police said. Windows were smashed, mirrors and windshield wipers were torn off and fire extinguishers were discharged.

Damage was estimated by police at between $5,000 and $10,000.

What was once thought to be an act against the church or an anti-Christmas attack is now being treated as a “spur of the moment, act of impulse” with no apparent motive, Lt. Walter Grzyb of the Maine State Police said Monday.

The boys’ identities were not released because they are juveniles, ranging in age from 15 to 17. Grzyb declined to give specific ages or say where the boys lived.

They were not arrested, but were questioned in the presence of their parents, and statements were obtained from all four teens, Grzyb said. There were varying levels of cooperation in the statements from the boys, he said, adding that police feel comfortable the four and no others were responsible for the vandalism.

“We’re still working on the details,” Grzyb said.

The parking lot where the buses are kept is an area where local kids go sledding, which is what Grzyb believed the boys were doing that night, but for reasons not entirely known to police, they decided to vandalize the buses, Grzyb said.

The boys showed remorse for their actions, according to Grzyb, who said the case will be handed over to the juvenile justice system where “further action” would be taken against them. However, Grzyb said he was not sure what punishments the boys face.

More than likely the boys will be on some type of probation or have conditions they must comply with such as curfew violations, Grzyb said.

They will also be responsible for compensating the church for its losses.

“I don’t know what the final outcome will be, but (repaying the church) will be a large part of it,” Grzyb said.

An investigation is under way to determine if the boys had any prior run-ins with the law.

Police do not know when the buses would be repaired.

Pastor Shaun Weeks could not be reached for comment Monday.