Erin residents band together in wake of vandalism spree

A rash of vandalism is leaving its mark on the small town of Erin, Ontario, and the residents there are banding together to put a stop to the criminal activity.

"Wedidn'tsign up for this," saidTraceyWallace, a resident of Erin who started the Facebook group Erin Community Watch.

Picnic tables lit on fire in the middle of Main Street? That's insanity.- Tracey Wallace, Erin resident

"Having to sleep with one eye open so your front window doesn't get smashed in, or your car window doesn't get smashed, or your children's school windows don't getsmashedin, that's not comfortable for us anymore."

The Facebook group has grown to almost 300 members in the short time it has been active.

Wallace said members of the group share information and encourage one another to stay safe.

A change in atmosphere

The acts of vandalism started early in August, when someone sprayed graffiti on the walls of the local high school.

Later in the month, roadsigns were torn down and a clothing donation box was pulled onto the street, blocking traffic.

Then, on Aug. 20, vandals smashed 15 windows at Erin Public School, causing $15,000 in damages.

"We've never seen this type of stuff go on here before," said Wallace. "We've had graffiti, we've had kids do pranks Picnic tables lit on fire in the middle of Main Street? That's insanity."

Until recently, Wallace said she has never felt the need to lock her doors.

Now, she said she find herself calling police more and more often.

"Every time I'm hearing something I'm popping up and saying okay, what's going on, is it worth calling in," she said.

"And they say yep, if it's something that shouldn't be happening at 2 o'clock in the morning, call us."

Police encourage direct reports

Wellington County OPP are investigating each incident of vandalism, but so far no one has been arrested and no charges have been laid.

Const. Marylou Schwindt said community members are eager to have the vandals caught, but that sharing information on Facebook and Twitter is not always helpful to a criminal investigation.

"Unfortunately, people are reporting it on social media and just assume it's common knowledge and that the police know," she said. "We don't, obviously, monitor all social media sites. So, if they do have information, we do encourage them to share it with the OPP directly."

Township urges calm

Erin Mayor Allan Alls is also urging report suspicious activity to police, not just on Facebook.

"Social media is important I'm not downplaying it but I've asked the local community not to become vigilante, but to work with the law enforcement," he said.

Alls, who has lived in the community for 44 years, believes criminal activity like the current rash of vandalism happens in wavesand that this wave won't last forever.

"I remember maybe 40 years ago there was a gang. They called themselves The Zoo and they did a lot of damage," he said. "They either grow up or go away or we catch them and they're looked after."

In spite of his belief that the problem will eventually be "looked after," Alls and the township are resurrectingErin's community policing committee.

He said this committee with work with local police to proactively deal with safety issues like the rash of vandalism.

The township is also starting a youth committee in the fall, in the hopes of getting more input from the town's younger population.