RCMP: Vandals still causing problems in Castlegar
By Kyra Hoggan
“Ridiculous” behaviours are keeping Castlegar RCMP busy this month, addressing complaints ranging from vandalism to recklessly dangerous pranks.
The fun began after an incident the night of July 2, in which the owner of a 2009 Dodge Charger left his sunroof open overnight.
“Somebody decided it would be funny to toss a cigarette through the sunroof,” said RCMP Cpl. Deb Postnikoff, adding the seats were subsequently burned.
“Police remind drivers to make sure their vehicles are left secure at all times.”
Postnikoff said the expensive nuisance crimes continued the morning of July 7, when police were called in to investigate a mess made sometime during the night.
“Someone sprayed orange paint all over the park – on the bowl, on the picnic tables and on the cement barriers,” she said, adding the park does have security cameras. “Obviously, we’re going to be carefully reviewing the footage in hopes of identifying the suspect or suspects.”
The same morning, police responded to a complaint at the Doukhobor Discover Centre, where large information signs and picnic tables were vandalized, and beer bottles and cans were, “thrown all over the place”.
“We cannot conclude at this time that the two files are related,” Postnikoff said.
The day ended on a similar note – the evening of July 7 (at around 7:30 p.m.) saw police responding to complaints of unknown youths hitting golf balls off 10 Avenue onto Columbia Avenue, apparently aiming for both pedestrains and passing vehicles.
“One pedestrian with a baby was almost hit twice.This type of ridiculous behaviour can result in tragedy,” Postnikoff said, explaining if, for example, one of the balls had hit a windshield, it could have caused a car accident that cost lives – hardly just a “harmless prank”.
If anyone has any information regarding any of these files, police as they contact the Castlegar RCMP detachment or Crime Stoppers.
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