EDMONTON- Police have asked the public for help as they try to track down the vandals who left behind a considerable trail of destruction in northeast Edmonton last weekend and who are believed to have struck again early Friday morning.
Investigators said between Thursday, Feb. 18 and Sunday, Feb. 21, 71 bus shelters had their glass shattered while windows were also broken in 15 cars and homes.
“This early into the investigation, we can’t rule out whether or not the houses and vehicles with broken windows are connected to the mischief to bus shelters,” Det. Rick Dahl with the Northeast Division Criminal Investigation Section, said in a release Friday. “This mischief spree has negatively affected a lot of innocent citizens and transit riders.”
On Thursday, officers responded to reports of four vehicles and a house with their windows smashed in the neighbourhoods of Evansdale, Casselman and McLeod. On Friday, police said seven vehicles and a pair of homes were vandalized in Casselman, McLeod, Abbottsfield, Hairsine and McConachie. On Sunday, police said a vehicle was damaged in Kilkenny.
Investigators said another half-dozen bus shelters were vandalized early Friday, just after midnight. The most recent bus shelters that were targeted were westbound along 118 Avenue and Abbottsfield Road, 33 Street, 43 Street, 50 Street, 51 Street and 53 Street. Three more bus shelters were vandalized a while later at 144 Avenue between 54 Street to 58 Street.
Police estimated the cost of cleaning up and repairing the damaged bus shelters alone will be about $30,000.
All the damage is believed to have taken place during the overnight hours.
Police said they believe the suspects were driving a red Dodge Carvan.
Anyone with information is asked to call the Edmonton Police Service at 780-423-4567 or #377 from a mobile phone. Anonymous tips can also be submitted to Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or online.