Vandals wreck havoc in Decatur

DECATUR TOWNSHIP, Mich. (NEWSCHANNEL 3) - Vandals in Van Buren County went on a path of destruction Tuesday morning.

In Decatur Township, someone did quite a bit of damage, smashing windows in homes and cars and damaging mailboxes. Whoever is responsible for the mess is still on the loose.

Newschannel 3 spoke with several people who found themselves on the receiving end of the vandalism. People in Decatur are simply baffled by the level of disrespect shown.

At least 35 to 40 homes were damaged in the vandalism spree, that police say happened between 2:00 and 6:00 am Tuesday.

In Decatur, busted mailboxes line the streets, home windows are shattered, and the Decatur High School has three windows that need to be replaced, courtesy of three giant rocks.

Gretchin Neumeier is one of a handful of people who woke up to discover their car had been vadalized.

"My neighbor came over, knocked on the door and said it looked like my window got broken out," said Neumeier.

When she called police, she realized she wasn't alone.

"She said they'd get somebody to me, but there's calls coming in from all over," said Neumeier.

Rick Evans' home was viciously attacked.

"I was not here, but my wife was and I was notified right quick," said Evans.

Evans says the vandals drove a car right up onto his lawn.

"Picked one of our large rocks up and for whatever reason, I don't even know how they got the nerve, but they threw it from this angle right on in the house," said Evans.

A second stone flew through a window, across the living room and wound up lodged in the wall.

"We've had pellet guns shot through the window and eggs on the roof and little things like that," said Evans, "but this here was dangerous is what it was."

Across the Decatur area, there is tens of thousands of dollars worth of damage, and state police are working to determine exactly who is responsible.

"Whenever you destroy someone else's property it's a serious matter, it's more than just kids being kids," said Sgt. James Bennett of the Michigan State Police.

Kids or not, the victims are looking for justice.

"For them to have the nerve to come in your yard, someone could have gotten seriously injured, I don't take that lightly," said Evans.

People in Decatur are angry about the mess left behind, and are pushing both Decatur Police and the Michigan State Police to figure out who is responsible.

Investigators are looking for help, and anyone with information is asked to call the Decatur Police at 269-423-2171 or Silent Observer.