Nearly 40 vehicles had their tires slashed while parked outside multiple apartment buildings in Fort McMurray, including River Valley Manor and Birchwood Manor. The vandalism occurred on 111 and 112 Charles Avenue and 15 and 16 Saunderson Avenue over a six-hour period from 10:00 p.m. on June 28 to 4:00 a.m. on June 29.
RCMP Investigating Widespread Tire Slashing
Wood Buffalo RCMP Staff Sergeant Sabrina Clayton expressed concern over the scope of the crime. “We’re talking about forty vehicles times four tires a vehicle. That’s a significant amount of mischief,” she said. Police have released surveillance footage showing the suspect’s vehicle pulling into a parking lot on the night of June 28, but the images are not clear enough to identify the suspect.
Resident Theda Briggs, whose tires were slashed, described the act as pointless. “It is a completely pointless act. The sheer extent of how many cars were vandalized suggests that it was not just some kids playing,” she said. Briggs noted that the timing was particularly disruptive, as it occurred on a Monday morning. “It was a Monday morning, people have business to conduct. I had to reschedule my interview in Anzac,” she said.
Impact on Residents and Police Response
Briggs said Wood Buffalo RCMP responded to her and her neighbours’ calls on the morning of June 29 but clarified that neither she nor her neighbours have heard back from the police since then. Clayton told Postmedia that no other damages to the targeted cars have been reported. She noted there was now an increased focus in place to monitor criminal activity downtown.
Having tires slashed means possibly having to rely on public transport for the entire day, but for Briggs and her neighbours, that was not an option. The disruption forced residents to rearrange their schedules and find alternative transportation.
Appeal for Information
Police say the investigation is still underway and are asking residents to share any information regarding the identity of the suspect or suspects by contacting the Wood Buffalo RCMP at (780) 788-4000 or 310-RCMP (7267). The surveillance footage showing the suspect’s vehicle has been released in an attempt to identify a suspect.
