Crime Stoppers' reward offered on burglary case
Information wanted on vandalism case as well
By BRENDA SOMMER bsommer@leader-news.com

West Wharton County Crime Stoppers is offering rewards for information on a recently foiled burglary and the vandalism of a vacant house.

The first case occurred around 1:15 a.m. Sunday morning at The Alignment Shop, 709 S. Mechanic.

Owner Rudy Dornak heard a loud noise, walked into his office and saw two White or Hispanic youths entering the building through a broken window.

"They had pried the window open," said Crime Stoppers coordinator and El Campo Police Officer Cindy Howell.

"They were wearing lightcolored, short-sleeved shirts, shorts, white socks and tennis shoes, and were about 15 or 16 years old."

Dornak yelled at the boys, Howell said, and the two teens fled east on Seventh Street without taking anything.

ECPD detective David Howard is the investigator for this case.

The second crime took place sometime between March 8 and 9 at an unoccupied trailer house at 2254 CR 416, owned by Victor Dybala.

The suspect or suspects shot holes in the front and rear doors and several interior walls with a 12-gauge shotgun. They also shot at a barn on the property and shattered a window in a tractor parked inside.

Damage to the home, barn and tractor is estimated to be about $7,000.

Sgt. Jason Mican at the Wharton County Sheriff's Department is investigating the case.

If you have information on the suspects in either of these, or other facts about the cases, please call West Wharton County Crime Stoppers at 543-TIPS (543-8477).

People with information about this crime can call Crime Stoppers and do not have to give their names to qualify for a reward.

Crime Stoppers pays cash rewards of up to $1,000 for information leading to the arrest and grand jury indictment of wanted felons.