A rash of costly vandalism in the Sackville area has one business owner offering a $10,000 reward for information about the most recent incident on his property.
Sometime during the evening of July 16 and the wee hours of July 17, vandals entered the Barrett Enterprises lumber yard on Beaver Bank Road and smashed windows in five vehicles. Another vehicle was rammed into a firewood splitter and sustained significant damage.
At least one of the perpetrators was injured, as blood was found in each vehicle. Blood samples and fingerprints were taken from the scene and RCMP continue to investigate.
But Barrett Enterprises president Robin Barrett hopes a cash reward will encourage anyone with information to come forward.
"The cameras caught nothing. It was as if they knew where (the cameras) were," he said. "We're now starting to get a few tips from the community. You begin to get a view of the underbelly of the community."
This isn't the first time the lumber yard has been targeted. In 2008 and 2009, a few vehicles were smashed. Although frustrated by those incidents, Barrett said they pale in comparison to the latest attack on his business.
"In the past, someone got tanked up and started throwing a few rocks through windows. That drives me crazy," Barrett said. "But this was malicious. The level of violence and rage is disturbing. They were hitting one window with a hammer hard enough to break through the laminate in the centre."
The most recent incident caused between $5,000 and $10,000 worth of damage. Barrett said they're offering the $10,000 reward because in the past five years, vandals have cost them between $50,000 and $80,000.
"If I accept this, I accept the fact that in five years I'll be out of business. Guys here won't have jobs," Barrett said. "I'm hearing from a whole bunch of people in the community and a lot were suffering alone and didn't realize someone else was having the same problem. Both businesses and individuals are being hit by vandals."
Further up the road from the lumber yard, Jim Neynens of Diesel Dynamics has also dealt with broken windows, and even had a group of youths throwing rocks at him.
In the past two months, residents and businesses in Lower Sackville have dealt with a rash of vandalism in the form of tire slashing. In late June, more than 60 cars were damaged. Less than two weeks later, several more tires were cut in the Old Sackville Road area.
"This summer we're seeing a spike in tire slashing, the most serious being a month ago with numerous vehicles in car lots and HRM vehicles parked at the Acadia site being slashed," explained Lower Sackville Coun. Bob Harvey. "It's an ongoing concern and there have been spikes in the types of vandalism and petty theft."
Early last week, vandals smashed out the windows of a bus shelter on Sackville Drive and several windows were broken at Millwood High.
In a separate incident, police arrested three 13-year-old youths on July 19 after residents at an apartment building on Metropolitan Drive called to report suspicious activity and a loud pop. A witness chased and caught one of the suspects and was able to detain him until police arrived.
Harvey said that kind of cooperation between police and residents is essential.
Incidents of thefts, primarily from unlocked vehicles overnight, is also being reported.
"Too many of us are still leaving our cars unlocked. Break-ins to unlocked cars and tire slashing had died down until (last) week's events," Harvey said. "It strikes a blow at community pride and feelings of security in the community."
The RCMP continue to investigate the Barrett vandalism and the unsolved tire slashing incidents. Cpl. Joe Taplin said last week members of the RCMP's youth problem-oriented policing unit make a point of regularly visiting "hot spots" where trouble seems to percolate over the summer months.
He urges residents to immediately call police if they see or hear anything suspicious.
"Calling the police could save some grief down the road," he said.
While theft from vehicles is a year-round problem, Taplin said the warmer weather brings with it an increase in the number of incidents.
"A lot of the vehicle breaks we have are crimes of opportunity for these thieves when people leave their vehicles unlocked," he said. "The majority are thefts from unlocked vehicles, so lock them and remove things from plain sight. If you have an iPod sitting inside your car in plain view it takes two seconds to open the car and run."
Anyone with information about the most recent Barrett lumber yard vandalism can contact Barrett Enterprises at 864-1955 or the RCMP.
Tips or information about community vandalism or any crime can be reported anonymously to police by calling Crime Stoppers, 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).
ydentremont@hfxnews.ca
