Police say children ranging in age from 7 to 11 vandalized Polly's Place, a home in Niles for victims of domestic violence, including setting fire to the computer lab in the back of the house. (WSBT photo)
Story Created:
Jul 3, 2008 at 3:42 PM EDT
Story Updated:
Jul 9, 2008 at 10:50 PM EDT
NILES -- Police are investigating a vandalism spree in Niles. They say a group of children severely damaged and even destroyed parts of Polly's Place Wednesday. It's a domestic violence home that provides safety and healing for women and their children.
No one was staying there at the time because the home was being renovated.
Workers say it's hard to imagine kids caused so much damage.
Peggy Caine has been involved with Polly's Place for nearly a decade. She was shocked to see the years of hard work damaged beyond recognition.
"It makes me sick because I've been a battered woman. It's just a place where we try to make them find their lives again,” said Caine.
The vandals did more than just ransack and damage the home. Police believe they headed out back and set the computer lab on fire — a place workers renovated a few years ago.
"We want to teach these women how to use computers so they can go out in the world today and work," Caine explained.
Virgina Cobb lives near Polly's Place and helps oversee the property. She just returned home when she spotted one of the vandals.
"I went around front and there was a kid coming out the door. They had broken glass and everything all out of the door," said Cobb.
Police say four children are responsible for the destruction. Their ages range from 7 to 11 years old.
"I was shocked. I had a hard time understanding when I got here that those little kids sitting on the lawn were the ones who did this," said Caine.
But Caine says Polly's Place has faced many challenges in the past. And this one is no different.
"It's gone for the moment. But I have faith that it will be back," she said.
Caine says insurance will help cover most of the cost. But they're always accepting donations. You can send them to:
Polly's Place
P.O Box 1055
Niles, MI 49022
Police say it's likely the 10-year-old and the 11-year-old will appear in juvenile court. As for the 7-year-old and 9-year-old, police say their cases will be forwarded to the prosecutor because it's rare for children so young to be involved in a crime.
Saturday, Jul 5 at 11:56 AM Anon wrote ...
Why is it that someone always has to bring race in to it? It doesn't matter if they are purple, they damaged someone else's property, there SHOULD be consequences!