Mounties are investigating two incidents of vandalism at a rainbow crosswalk in front of Spencer Middle School that occurred over two consecutive nights this week.
The first incident occurred around 2:30 a.m. on Monday morning outside the Langford school, located at 1026 Goldstream Ave.
Video surveillance shows a lone person spray painting profanity on the crosswalk, while holding a drink can in one hand and spray paint in the other.
The person was wearing a dark-coloured hoodie with the hood pulled over a baseball cap. They were also wearing dark coloured pants and hiking style boots.
The video can be viewed below:
The second vandalism incident occurred the next night around 11 p.m. on Tuesday.
In this incident, a security camera shows two male suspects spray painting the crosswalk.
One suspect was wearing brown shorts, a black T-shirt and a dark-coloured baseball cap.
Meanwhile, the second suspect was wearing a dark tank top with a large circular logo on the chest, dark pants, and a baseball cap. He had long, shoulder-length hair and was carrying a beverage can in his left hand.
The second video can be viewed below:
Police say they are investigating both incidents as mischief under the criminal code, and that all the graffiti has since been cleaned up by the City of Langford.
Anyone with information on the identities of any of the suspects, or on the vandalism, is asked to contact the West Shore RCMP at 250-474-2264. Tips can also be sent anonymously to Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or online.
This week’s vandalism comes after the crosswalk, which was just unveiled outside Spencer Middle School earlier this year, was vandalized twice in 24 hours.
At the crosswalk’s official unveiling in February, students said they were upset that the crosswalk was targeted, but that they also felt supported by the community in the days that followed.
“Youth want to be liked by others but don’t always show who they are,” said Grade 8 Spencer Middle School student Georgia Banner at the time.
“The Pride Progress crosswalk is a symbol and statement of being free to be who you are, and don’t be who you’re not,” she said.
“I hope this crosswalk makes you want to be who you are, and not what other people want you to be.”
Adam Chan
