Melanie Lawder

USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin

BABCOCK -- Two 14-year-old males went on a vandalism spree in Babcock that might have left more than $100,000 worth of damage to several of the town's businesses and one residence, authorities say.

The incident occurred Wednesday night, and victims included Babcock's Ocean Spray receiving station, the Babcock Cafe and one residence. Property loss has not been finalized, although authorities say the damage was significant at all locations.

The two 14-year-old boys are in custody and have confessed to doing the damage, said Sheriff Thomas Reichert.

At the Ocean Spray facility, 1522 Necedah Road, Reichert said the juveniles used a forklift to overturn a pickup truck on the premises. Damage was done to the facility's vending machines, portraits, pictures, signs and windows.

Babcock Cafe, about 1 mile from the Ocean Spray facility, also suffered a severe amount of damage — roughly $50,000 to $60,000 in property loss, said Judi Gross, a server at the restaurant.

"I've never in my life seen anything like this, ever," Gross said.

"The place was just absolutely trashed — you couldn't even walk in here," Gross said.

Applesauce was poured all over the bathroom. Ketchup, oil and soda was spilled everywhere. Pies and eggs were thrown across the restaurant. Every coffee cup was smashed — and a bar stool was sticking out of the wall, Gross said.

"I could just go on and on," Gross said. "They did hundreds of the things."

The two boys will be charged with burglary, criminal damage of property and operating a motor vehicle without an owner's consent, Reichert said, noting that there was a possibility of further charges. Both boys — who are from the Babcock area — will be tried in the juvenile court system, Reichert said.

Reichert said there didn't appear to be a motive behind the two males' actions, adding that they admitted to consuming alcohol prior to the vandalism.

"It would seem that the bad choices sort of snowballed after that," Reichert said.

Within about eight hours of the reports of vandalism, Reichert said they had the case "basically resolved." First reports of the vandalism were called into the Wood County Sheriff's Department at 5:51 a.m. Thursday. Later in the afternoon, interviews were conducted, and the two teens were arrested.

Reichert also noted that Babcock and its concerned citizens had been particularly helpful.

Because of the vandalism, Babcock's Ocean Spray facility will be closed through the weekend and is diverting its fruit deliveries to its Tomah facility, said Kelly Dignan, spokeswoman for Ocean Spray, in an email to Daily Tribune Media. Dignan said the company is still determining the financial cost incurred from the vandalism.

"Thankfully, none of our colleagues were at the facility at the time, and there were no injuries," Dignan said. "We are diverting fruit deliveries to the Ocean Spray receiving station in Tomah. We are fully cooperating with local authorities in their investigation."

Gross said the Babcock Cafe was able to reopen Friday night and for this weekend's Warrens Cranberry Festival, which brings considerable traffic to the restaurant.

For Gross, the actions of vandalism were reprehensible.

"They had a real spree in here that night, let me tell you," Gross said.