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Lennoxville borough chair Doug MacAulay says he is “frustrated” with reports of local graffiti in the community.
Several buildings in the borough were hit once again last weekend by graffiti artists and MacAulay is, once again, appealing to the public to report any cases of graffiti vandalism they may be aware of. PHOTO: SARAH ROGERS
Doug MacAulay is frustrated with recent cases of graffiti vandalism in Lennoxville, such as at this commercial property on Queen Street that was defaced last weekend.
In April, a large red X was spray-painted over the names of Second World War veterans inscribed on the cenotaph beside Lennoxville town hall and a beer bottle was also smashed against the monument.
Due to an apparent increase in vandalism across the city, Sherbrooke’s public works department is making efforts to wipe away traces of the graffiti as soon as possible, MacAulay said.
Where in the past individual municipal agencies were responsible for cleaning graffiti off their own facilities, now the city has hired a private firm to deal with graffiti cases reported to a central office.
Defacing property with aerosol paint is a criminal offence, and while the municipality will take care of public property, private property owners are responsible for their own clean-up.
In 2008, Sherbrooke police received 125 complaints about graffiti in the city, an offence that is most often charged as mischief under $5,000. Only a small handful of offenders have been charged with mischief over $5,000, according to the Sherbrooke police.
Sherbrooke residents can report cases of graffiti vandalism on their property to the police at 819- 821-5555.
By Sarah Rogers
Sherbrooke2009-06-25 |
Montreal Canadiens
