Kelowna RCMP are asking for help to identify three suspects who have allegedly spray painted multiple public and private structures.
Image Credit: SUBMITTED / RCMP
October 08, 2020 - 1:53 PM
Police are hoping the public can help them identify three prolific Kelowna taggers.
Kelowna RCMP are asking for help to identify three suspects who have allegedly spray painted multiple public and private structures.
"AWKWRD" has been linked to roughly 300 tags to various structures throughout the Kelowna area.
Image Credit: SUBMITTED / RCMP
The first suspect "AWKWRD," pictured above, has been linked to roughly 300 tags to various structures throughout the Kelowna area.
"SOJA" has been active in the downtown core, with more than 300 incidents over the summer.
Image Credit: SUBMITTED / RCMP
The second suspect "SOJA,' pictured above, has been active in the downtown core with more than 300 incidents over the summer.
"SOCIAL" has tagged numerous public and private properties throughout Kelowna.
Image Credit: SUBMITTED / RCMP
Third suspect "SOCIAL," pictured above, has tagged numerous public and private properties throughout Kelowna.
"These types of crimes are often discounted by the public as 'nuisance issues,'" Kelowna RCMP spokesperson Cpl. Jocelyn Noseworthy said in an RCMP media release. "But the reality is this isn’t a victimless crime. Vandalism such as this takes away from the beauty of our city, and it encourages other criminal behaviour. "
Every year taggers cost the community more than $400,000 to paint over or remove graffiti on public property and more than $350,000 on private property, according to a City of Kelowna release.
This year has been the busiest ever with staff cleaning more than 1,500 locations in August and September alone.
In partnership with Crime Stoppers, a $500 reward is offered for tips that lead to an arrest for graffiti vandalism. To report graffiti online, click here.
Anyone with any information about the three tagging suspects can contact the Kelowna RCMP at 250-762-3300 or remain completely anonymous by calling Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.
Tags from top to bottom: SOJA, SOCIAL, AWKWRD.
Image Credit: SUBMITTED / RCMP
—This story was updated at 4:35 p.m. Oct. 8, 2020 to add information from the City of Kelowna.
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