Cleanup continues at a Palm Bay daycare after vandals struck again for the third time in just a matter of weeks.
Investigators say the young suspects, thought to be anywhere from 11-14 years old, came onto the property at The Learning Tree on Emerson Drive and caused chaos. On Monday night they left a trail of damage behind.
"This time it accelerated, and they damaged a lot of property," said owner Priscilla Denino.
She says the kids busted down this fence and then began to damage whatever they could find in this back play area.
They tried to uproot these play tires on the side of the building.
They ransacked the patio, scattering toys, knocking over shelves and chairs.
In all, Denino estimates several thousand dollars in damage, all of which the daycare must absorb because their insurance deductible is too high.
The playground was closed during cleanup Tuesday keeping Amy Larson's disappointed 5- year-old son James from his favorite part of the day.
"For them to do this to a tiny little place like this, it takes a big effect on the kids at heart," said Larson.
It might surprise you that a daycare owner whose business was ravaged by vandals would have a forgiving attitude.
But for Denino, who has run the daycare for the past quarter century, that's the educator in her speaking.
"They need to have consequences for their behavior, and we need to forgive them and find a way to help them," says Denino.
Denino hopes this doesn't happen again -- but left a message on the outside chalkboard in case the vandals return -- they will know they were caught on tape -- video that's now in the hands of the police department.
If you have any information about the vandals, call Crimeline at 1-800-423-TIPS.