Smithers RCMP are looking for suspects responsible for damaging Community Forest logging equipment over the long weekend.
Corporal Madonna Saunderson said police received a report of mischief to property on Feb. 17.
A grader, parked on the McDonell Forest Service Road was damaged.
The machine was parked at 3 p.m. the day before and the damage discovered around 11 a.m. the next day.
“The windows on one side appeared to have been shot out and the tires had also been shot,” she said. “Evidence found at the scene support the investigative avenue that a firearm was used.”
The Wetzin’kwa Community Forest Corporation confirmed it was one of their logging contractor’s equipment.
General Manager Sam Coggins said it is a shame the grader was damaged.
“There is pretty thin margins in forestry already,” he said. “Just to shell out money for people having a bit of fun or maybe intentionally vandalizing, it is hurting the contractor and there is the safety aspect to it as well.”
This is the second incident of vandalism the Community Forest has faced in the last six months.
Late last year, an outhouse was blown up near the Silvern gathering shelter. Coggins is hoping this isn’t becoming a trend.
He would also like to remind the public that the Community Forest along the McDonell Forest Service Road, including the parking lot is off-limits to shooting. Coggins said there has also been a lot of garbage and other waste in that parking lot at the 3-km mark and is hoping people will respect the environment more in the future.
RCMP are asking anyone with information to contact the detachment.
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