Police report spike in vandalism on church properties in Vancouver

The Vancouver Police Department is appealing for witnesses following what it calls a major spike in crimes on churchproperties this summer.

In a statement Thursday, police said since June 2therehave been13 incidents of mischief and vandalism on church properties, all of which are now under investigation.

"We're reminding people to be proactive and to report anything unusual at church properties, because we're concerned this could escalate into a situation where someone gets badly hurt," Sgt. Steve Addison said in the statement.

Some of theincidents include rocks being thrown through windows, buildings being defaced with paintand threats to set fire to buildings, police say.

Incidents of note

• A church building nearLittle Mountain was vandalizedon the evening of June 8. Four people dressed in blackthrew red paint on the property, posted signsand painted graffiti referencingresidential schools.

• An unknown person threatened to burn down a church in South Vancouver on Canada Day.

• A church in Renfrew-Collingwood was vandalized around 10:45 p.m. PT on Canada Day by two women who threw orange paint on the side of the building.

• Sometime between July 4 and July 7, someone threw a rock through the window of a church in the Kitsilano neighbourhood.

• The pastor of a South Cambie church was making his early-morning rounds on July 20 when he discovered a gallon of lighter fluid and rags near the side of the building around 4 a.m. PT. He also saw a man standing in the middle of the road staring at the church.

Police said though most of these crimesoccurred at night or in the early morning, many of the properties can be occupied at all times of day, putting people directly in the line of danger.

Investigators from VPD's Property Crime Unit are gathering evidence and looking for possible links to solve the crimes.

So far, no arrests have been made, Addison said.

"We're growing more concerned each day by the escalation of these crimes and their brazen nature, and we're calling on the people responsible for these crimes to stop. There are more productive ways to voice your anger and express your views," he said.

Anyone with informationis asked to call Vancouver police at 604-717-0613.