The exact same thing happened to my 1990 Corsica 5 years ago. Neighbor's kids had a party. Young girl still hungover from the night before. Totaled my rear passenger side door. Pushed my car 18". No note..
I grabbed my brother in-law, and we went over and knocked on the door. Found out the girls name after some discussions about what went on last night, and the fact that I new these kids parents where in Florida for a week.. They coughed over her phone number, and she agreed to pay for the damage.
I got a quote from the most expensive place in town (Zenitec). Then we met up, reviewed the quote, I told her I would do some of the work my self to make it a little cheaper. She gave me $800 cash.
Transmission blew on the car 3 weeks later, so I put the money toward the down payment on a new VW golf.
If you can find out who actually did the damage, then I don't see any harm in going after them for the repair costs IMO.. Even if it's a beater.