Graffiti won't be tolerated, says mayor

Posted Feb 2, 2012 By Sue Dickens

EMC News -Campbellford - Businesses and the municipal office have again been the target of graffiti in Campbellford.

"I don't think what these guys realize is it's not going to be tolerated, they are going to be caught, there's going to be repercussions," said Mayor Hector Macmillan.

In the early morning hours of Wednesday, January 25, two young males used black and white spray paint to spread their graffiti.

Ten businesses and one parked vehicle were targeted, from Mac's Milk to the IDA to the post office and Liquidation World, to Video 99 on the bank of the canal.

The damage is reported to be approximately $10,000.

Reports also indicate two young males were caught on surveillance video but their identities are yet unknown. The initials CCK appeared on some of the graffiti.

"This happened last year and the year before, it just seems to be random," said Macmillan.

"I would say we don't get near as much as they do in urban centres where it seems to be more of a societal thing," he added.

"I suspect the same thing will happen like the last time, the police will catch them and we'll make them clean it," said the mayor, who has video surveillance at his gas station, the Phoenix Ultramar, in town.

"It is tagging," he commented.

"And it's a criminal offence," he said, adding, "We have municipal cameras out there."

A couple of years ago the new skateboard park was the object of graffiti spraying.

Suspects were arrested and charged.

Last year graffiti appeared on businesses at random.

"It's a police issue," said Mayor Macmillan.

During discussions of how to help solve the problem, Mayor Macmillan told EMC, "Trent Hills looked at developing a graffiti bylaw similar to the one in Belleville over a year ago where it would control the sale of things that are used and there was a public outcry from a couple of the business owners that sell the stuff, so it didn't happen."

The Quinte West graffiti bylaw states that the sale of spray paint, broad-tipped marker pens, paint pens, and glass cutting tools and glass etching tools or instruments is prohibited to individuals under the age of 18.

Since the concept of a bylaw did not become a reality in Trent Hills, the next step was to form a working group, led by the Trent Hills and District Chamber of Commerce which did organize and a focus group was held. An update will follow. Nancy Allanson, executive director of the chamber, was unavailable at press time.

"We have municipal cameras out there," commented the mayor.

"I don't think what these guys realize is it's not going to be tolerated, they are going to be caught, there's going to be repercussions, it's a criminal act and that a $5 can of paint will do thousands of dollars worth of damage," he added.

"We catch them every time,"

The Northumberland Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) is continuing to investigate and encourages anyone with information on this or any other crime to contact the OPP at 1-888-310-1122. For those wishing to remain anonymous, contact Peterborough Northumberland Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS) or submit information online at < www.stopcrimehere.ca>.