CHESTNUTHILL TOWNSHIP -- The sale of a historic farmhouse in Monroe County is now on hold after vandals caused thousands of dollars in damage to the property, and the vandals actually had the nerve to leave state police a message.
The family who originally owned that farmhouse in Effort was just about to buy it back. But when the current owners arrived to sign the papers, they walked into a disaster
Every window was broken and there was a big mess is inside.
"Antiques broken, glass shattered all over the place, windows broken, doors broken, just a huge mess," said William VanHousen of Effort.
VanHousen says his mother was just about to buy this property. She grew up here in Chestnuthill Township. Now it has damage the family estimates to be about $8,000 to $10,000 .
"It just makes me mad and kind of sad, and it just bothers my mom a lot and I don`t like the fact that it does," said Jacob VanBritsom of Effort.
A barn on the property was also damaged and inside a trailer, knives were stuck in the walls.
State police took some for evidence, and only hours later, VanHousen says more knives appeared in the walls, with a carved message from the vandals, 'you took my swords' and 'my knife.'
"I just want to find out who did it so they don`t end up doing it to somebody else`s property," said VanHousen.
All of this destruction has put the sale of this farmhouse and 52-acre property in Effort on hold while insurance companies work to figure it all out.
Now, VanHousen is stopping by the property daily to watch for anything suspicious. This family is hoping to catch the people responsible.
"I hope they do and if they do, I hope that they get what`s coming to them," said VanBritsom.
"They`re going to get caught, they`re not any different from the animals that I hunt on this property, if they keep coming through the property I`m going to see them," said VanHousen.
Anyone with information is asked to contact state police in Fern Ridge.
As of right now the family from Effort still plans to purchase the property, but now has a lot more clean up work than expected.