vandalism by minors-need advice

[Larry T.]

Hi everyone, over the weekend of the 4th, about 5-6 teenagers got up on the second floor balcony of a 4-plex that we are renovating (which is currently vacant due to work being done) and they kicked of large portions of the wooden banister rail of the second floor balcony. There was a girl with the group that took pictures of everyone and I have been told by our contractor, who saw the damage and reported it all to the police, that the kids are all identifiable. (the police have told him this and that it would be a pretty "easy case"....)

This is in a small very blue-collar town where people do not have money. Our contractor has estimated the damage at 400-500 dollars to get it back to the way it was. Obviously if there are photos, then my first step will be to attempt to contact all the parents and ask them to pay or have their kids pay their share of the damage. Around 100 dollars each which in this town is a lot of money. If I am unsuccessful in collecting any money for the damage...do I then press charges? Against minors? I don't even know what class of a crime that vandalism is, and what that would do to their record.

I am also trying to take into consideration that it is a small town where I do not live and that I don't want to make our property a target for more damage for revenge or anything but at the same time they have done this and it must be made right. Our contractor said that he knows one of the teens to be a pretty bad kid who has done lots of things around town.

How would you handle it? Any advice would be extremely appreciated. I do not want to go through any insurance claims as the amount is so small.

[Kevin Yeats]

L T,

The juvenile petty criminals stole from you. If this was a tenant in a rental unit and skipped on the last month's rent, would you track them down?

I understand your fear of retaliation but if you don't pursue this in one way or another, you condone their behavior. Even if the bad kid continues his criminal ways, the others may learn a lesson.

If I were in your shoes, I'd have a converstation with the police on the best way to pursue this. Would you be happy if the kids (or parents) make restitution ONLY? Do you want to pursue this as a criminal matter since your contractor already reported it and the individuals are identified? At what loss would you definately pursue criminal charges?

Find a friendly cop and have a talk.