LETHBRIDGE- It’s reckless and unnecessary behavior according to county resident and gun safety instructor Allan Friesen.
“How frightening would that be if you were in your house and you heard a sign rattling because of gunfire.”
Lethbridge County is shocked by the vandalism it’s seeing in the northeast corner of the county. 63 road signs have been destroyed by gun shots and some sign posts have also been broken off.
“It’s extremely frustrating I don’t see why somebody would want to do it and why they are continuing to do it in such a large number. I don’t recall ever having more than five or six in a year, but this is just really a big drastic change,” says county Reeve, Lorne Hickey.
The sign damage alone will cost tax payers roughly $13,000 thousand dollars to replace the vandalized property, something county officials say is an unnecessary waste of dollars.
But the most concerning part is the complete disregard for safety and property damage.
The RCMP are looking into the vandalism, and say the culprits used more than one type of gun.
“Shot gun shells were found at one place, and some of the other signs were hit with what appears to be a high caliber rifle,” says Constable Darrell Craig with the Picture Butte RCMP.
The reeve says with shots being fired at signs, whoever is responsible is not thinking of others who could be harmed, “There are buildings and houses behind these signs, right in the line of fire.”
Bullets can travel a far distance, even after hitting some objects.
A lot of center fire rifles will have a dangerous range of four kilometers, and that little piece of aluminum most of the signs are made of isn’t going to slow up a bullet,” adds Friesen.
The majority of the signs are damaged beyond recognition or knocked down and no longer visible to drivers, creating an even bigger safety concern.
“If there is a yield sign or a dead end sign gone, and someone misses that because it’s been knocked down of shot up that could lead to the death or serious injury of someone,” adds Friesen.
The county is working with the RCMP to find whoever is responsible for the vandalism and they could face serious charges.
If you have any information you are asked to contact Crime Stoppers.
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