Graffiti in the Kettle Valley area has gotten so bad that Central Okanagan Crime Stoppers is offering a $500 reward for information that leads to an arrest.
Chute Lake Elementary, businesses, and infrastructure in the area have all been tagged.
Sherry Elliot, owner of Public on Main Bar and Grill, says she's been hit twice in the last month. The first time, every single one of her 20 patio chairs were spray painted on the back rest.
“When you look through all the chairs you can see it’s like somebody’s writing their name,” she says “Like there’s three different tagging’s, one’s Jenn and ones Masi, and then there’s just like, it looks like signatures and it looks like they’re swearing too in the tagging.”
The second time, just last Friday, the glass railing around her patio was spray painted, along with a sign. As a business owner, she says it’s onerous to clean it.
“I’m here from open to close and I’m busy, I’m short staffed in the kitchen and so it’s like I’m here always in the kitchen cooking and taking care of everything.”
Elliot says some in the area have speculated that a group of people are responsible, while others believe it’s one person.
“I wouldn’t be able to say if this is a single person or a group of individuals or say, other individuals that see what’s being done and continue on with their own efforts,” says Kelowna RCMP Corporal Jesse O’Donaghey, “But we are interested in any information the public does have.”
O’Donaghey says the extent of the vandalism in the area was brought to the attention of Kelowna RCMP on Monday and they are now investigating. They are also increasing patrols and asking Citizens on Patrol to do the same.
He says they have also become aware of an increase of cars being broken into at night, as well as incidents of underage teenagers gathering in some areas to drink alcohol.
“RCMP encourage all residents to ensure they report these crimes to police, as when they go un reported, crime analysts are not in a position to identify trends, potentially identify suspects and provide real time information to RCMP officers for consideration for their proactive patrol efforts,” says O’Donaghey.