Vandalism spree leaves 74 Vernon parking meters damaged

VERNON – The City of Vernon is looking for information after numerous parking meters were vandalized, resulting in thousands of dollars in damage.

Communications officer Tanya Laing Gahr says 74 meters were damaged in total, with the clocks from 72 broken or removed over the weekend. Damage is estimated at around $20,000. 

There was no money stolen from the meters, and so far 19 meter clocks have been recovered in various states of damage.

“(The) City of Vernon is hoping the public can assist by providing any video footage from surveillance cameras or helping locate missing meters or meter parts,” Laing Gahr says.
 
The public is asked to contact the Vernon RCMP and quote RCMP File 2015-26425 if they have any information that may help in locating those responsible. 

The city is offering a $500 reward for supplying information to the RCMP which results in the conviction of people damaging civic property.

To contact the reporter for this story, email Charlotte Helston at chelston@infonews.ca or call 250-309-5230. To contact the editor, email mjones@infonews.ca or call 250-718-2724.