Drumheller RCMP are asking residents to help stop an emerging blight in the town. During the past few weeks, the Drumheller RCMP has noticed a rise in incidents of vandalism to property.
Many of those properties are owned by the community. For example, last week someone had spread graffiti throughout the Little Church on North Dinosaur Trail (a few students have since repaired the damaged).
“As of late, I have noticed a large number of what is referred to as tagging or graffiti,” said Staff Sergeant Art Hopkins.
The vandal(s) have been using spray paint or markers to write slogans on signs, benches, and dinosaurs within town. Some of the slogans say “Grad 2012”, or variation thereof, others are tags used to declare ownership of property or the item.
Some extreme examples include a van burning at DVSS and someone breaking into and vandalizing the old St. Anthony’s student over the past two weekends.
“These actions give visitors the wrong impression of Drumheller and it’s insulting to those people who work hard to beautify our community,” said Staff Sergeant Hopkins. “Imagine visiting here from another country and seeing all this graffiti. It does not give you a safe and secure feeling or instill the desire to stay longer.”
Those linked to the vandalism can be charged with mischief.
The RCMP is asking residents with any information or who have witnessed people with large felt markers or cans of spray paint at inappropriate times to call the Drumheller RCMP at 403-823-7590.
“We have a lot of old architecture here,” said Staff Sergeant Hopkins. “These places if they get tagged, it never fully comes off. They are forever damaged.”
