North Vancouver RCMP have a message for the person who has been vandalizing and removing signs in Princess Park: We're watching for you.
According to police, someone has been repeatedly targeting signs in the park that warn visitors they should stick to the marked trails and that dogs must be leashed.
In some cases, the signposts have simply been removed and tossed aside. In others, the vandal or vandals have removed them completely and taken the effort to refill the holes. There have also been instances of fences that were erected to keep people out of environmentally sensitive areas being knocked over.
“It’s very deliberate,” said Const. Mansoor Sahak, North Vancouver RCMP spokesperson. “Obviously, it tells us that somebody’s unhappy about the sign.”
District of North Vancouver staff and volunteers have been putting a lot of effort into restoring the health of the forest in the park and the mischief undermines that work, said Steffanie Warriner, director of parks.
“It is really disappointing to see such senseless acts of theft and vandalism in Princess Park,” she said in a statement. “New signage and fencing were installed to protect the hard work of over 60 community volunteers and district staff who planted 1,000 native plants last year to help improve forest health in this area. Not only is it costly to continue to replace these signs and fencing, but these acts of vandalism disrespect the time and care that has been invested into restoring this sensitive area and put the good work of the community and staff in jeopardy.”
There have been other cases of someone targeting Princess Park’s trees for vandalism, and North Shore Rescue has, for years, been replacing signs on the trails around Grouse Mountain and Mount Fromme because someone keeps stealing them. It’s not likely the cases are connected, Sahak said. The suspect likely lives in the area and frequently uses the park, he added.
North Vancouver RCMP are asking anyone with information about the vandalism to come forward, and anyone who witnesses anything suspicious in the park should call police.
“Our message to the individuals and or individual is that you’ve caused enough damage,” said Sahak. “It is a serious issue. Now, the police are looking into this and if you’re caught or if someone witnesses you, you could be reported and you could be charged with a criminal offence.”
Anyone with information is asked to contact the North Vancouver RCMP at 604-985-1311 or Crime Stoppers, if they wish to remain anonymous, at 1-800-222-TIPS or solvecrime.ca.
