Vidor Police investigating severe case of criminal mischief

Many Southeast Texans know the feeling of just finishing Hurricane Rita repairs on their homes only to have Hurricane Ike come and tear it apart.  But imagine that second round of damage coming from strangers... for no reason.

"I bought this house, I put my total life savings in here and now it's worthless," said Stephen Nichols, "Celings, fans, floors, doors, windows, commodes, lavatories, sinks, cabinets.. every single thing."

"Why would anybody do this to me?" he asked.

That's a question Nichols has asked himself since he walked into his Vidor home on December 20th... to find it in ruins.

"Total of $110,000 I've got in it."

Nichols, an area contractor, bought the home three years ago after Hurricane Rita threw a 'tree' 'through' the roof. The home was finally complete, locked up and 'listed' two weeks before someone broke 'in' and broke 'it.'  And while Nichols wants to know 'why', Vidor police want to know 'who.'

Vidor Police Officer Mike Sanchez said, "From what witnesses have said, we've got two white males, possibly juveniles, we're not positive on that, leaving the house going into the wooded area, running."

Police say they need the community's help to fill in the rest of the blanks... if not for Nichols, for the neighborhood's own peace and property.

Sanchez said, "If you don't do your job as a citizen of the community, we can't do our job either."

Nichols said, "There's people that can hear stuff, there's people that can see stuff that can come in, give a report, and to help us catch these guys because of they did it to my house, they can do it to yours."

Police say the $100,000 worth of damage to the Nichols home is enough to charge the suspects with felony criminal mischief.  If you have any information about this December 20th crime, call Eastex Crimestoppers at 724-TIPS, that's 724-8477.