Local wants vandalism acts reported to RCMP

For Patrice Fortin, who has lived in a house on Giekie street for the last nine years, vandalism has become an annoying and regular occurrence. But, hopefully, if residents continue reporting the incidents, police can focus on problem areas.

The latest act of vandalism occurred during the first two weeks of April, which is spring break for some schools. Three nights in one week the white picket fence outside Fortin’s home was broken, with the slates pulled off the fence and the decorational tops broken.

According to Fortin, the damage happens late at night, around 1 a.m. or 2 a.m., once bars have closed and groups of people begin to mosey home down the main thoroughfares of Geikie and Patricia Streets.

“Most of the things that happen is when people are drunk and stupid,” he said, adding that other residents living in the area have had their property damaged as well. “I talk to people around about and they say, ‘I got my mirror destroyed,’ and I look around my neighbours and one had his fence also busted around the corner from my house,” he said.

This type of vandalism is not new to Jasper, but Fortin said that while it used to be an issue in the summer it’s now become a winter problem as well. “It’s happening more than ever before,” he said, adding he thinks one or more houses on the street is vandalized at least once a month.

Fortin said he thinks the RCMP are doing as much as they can with the information provided to them.

“I wish that the cops will use those reports to find what are actually the busy nights where there is the most vandalism [and] then put more cops on the streets on those nights,” he said. “Hopefully, police officers can come back to my house and keep an eye on it.”

A member from the Jasper RCMP detachment was not available for comment.