By KEITH UPCHURCH

kupchurch@heraldsun.com; 419-6612

DURHAM -- Police Chief Jose Lopez said Friday that if investigators determine Monday's break-in to a Durham mosque was hate-motivated, police will pursue it.

"We're trying to get the community to come forward -- anybody who might know who broke into it,'' he said. "We still investigating it.''

"But if we find any indication that it was a hate crime, we're going to pursue it. At this point, we know that someone broke in and stole some articles.''

The Jamaat Ibad Ar-Rahman mosque at 3034 Fayetteville St. was broken into Monday. Damage to the property, including several broken windows and doors, was found about 5 a.m.

Police said two flat-screen monitors, a printer and a personal computer were taken from three of the five rooms entered.

Lopez said that unfortunately, break-ins to houses of worship are not rare.

"I don't think in most cases it's an attack on a religion as much as a means to steal something from what they might consider a soft target,'' he said.

The chief said police will keep talking with mosque officials as the investigation continues.

Anyone with information about the mosque break-in is asked to call Investigator Kevin Emanuel at (919) 560-4415, ext. 29306, or CrimeStoppers at (919) 683-1200.