Two California parents were caught on camera appearing to encourage their children to help vandalize and steal in a self-proclaimed sovereign community.
The Slowjamastan “micronation” is now offering a $1,000 reward for information on the suspects.
Community officials said parents brought “their young children to commit multiple crimes” the night of Dec. 14, which allegedly included theft and scrawling “we declare war” in graffiti.
The video shows the two men repeatedly reaching for a door handle as they try to enter a guardhouse.
As they approach, they notice that the security camera is on, causing one of the children to tell his father that he is afraid.
But another, who seems unfazed, asks: “Dad, where is the lever?”
The men continue to discuss how they can gain access and decide they may have to break a window.
“Wait, no, no, no, I don’t think that’s a good idea,” one of the worried children can be heard saying as his father begins trying to pry the door open.
Two California parents have been caught on camera appearing to encourage their children to help vandalize and steal in a community.
The group allegedly stole items from inside a guardhouse located in the ‘micronation’ of Slowjamastan.
‘Do you want to try it?’ he asks the children as one yells, “It’s not working.”
However, another of the boys accompanying them gets scared, repeating that it is a bad idea.
“You’re scaring my kids,” one of the men jokes with the other. ‘Who wants to try it? Golden? I’ll keep you safe, I promise.
But the children seem reluctant and one asks them what will happen if they get caught.
‘What if they really try to do something and really accuse us?’ the boy asks.
“I’ll take the heat for it, I can get out of jail, I’ve done it before,” one parent says, prompting more concern from the children.
They keep trying to open the doors and finally the pop opens, causing the men to start laughing and shouting in celebration.
They run inside and start looting and the kids start screaming with excitement.
The incident took place on December 14 and the group used a crowbar to try to gain access.
Community officials estimate the vandals caused about $20,000 worth of damage.
‘We found a treasure!’ one of the dads shouts before the group is seen carrying away various items, including a mannequin.
As the clip ends, the parents can be heard celebrating how “amazing” the experience was and planning where to go next.
Images shared by community officials also show how the suspects left graffiti. They estimate the damage caused to be around $20,000.
“Slowjamastan has always been about fun and community – a cool place, built by cool people, in Ocotillo Wells,” officials said.
‘It is ironic that just a few days before this incident, the Slowjamastan team spent the weekend cleaning the desert; our Adopt-a-Highway program along CA-78.
‘Only for these great examples of parents to lead their young children to commit multiple crimes.
‘More than the physical damage you caused, YOU PUT YOUR CHILDREN IN DANGER!!!
‘Turn yourself in immediately and pay damages or face immediate civil and criminal prosecution.
Community officials are now offering a $1,000 reward for information leading to the arrest of the two adult suspects.
The incident took place in Slowjamastan, a micronation within Imperial County in Southern California.
You may have thought it was a funny prank, but you broke numerous laws.
“To me it’s not about the property, which can be fixed, but about the minds and hearts of these children – that’s child abuse at its worst.” Something has to happen,” said the ‘Sultan’ of the community, Randy Williams. NBC11.
The Republic of Slowjamastan, officially the United Territories of the Sovereign Nation of the People’s Republic of Slowjamastan, is located in Imperial County.
It spans 11.07 acres of land between the towns of Ocotillo Wells and Westmorland.