Hamilton police investigate hate crime involving Pride flags

Police in Hamilton say they are investigating two hate incidents involving Pride flags in east Hamilton.

Investigators say an unknown suspect was seen last Monday walking up a residential driveway in the area of Edgemont Street and forcibly removing a Pride flag from a victim's vehicle, causing damage to the flag.

Over the weekend, police say the same suspect reappeared at the same residence and damaged a window that had a Pride flag hanging.

Police are asking anyone with information on the crimes to contact police.

Earlier this month, police were investigating a series of Pride-flag thefts in the Hamilton Mountain, where six flags were stolen in over six days from four Hamilton-Wentworth Catholic School Board (HWCDSB) schools and two private residences.

In 2022, Hamilton saw a 61 per cent increase in hate crimes and incidents, according to a report published in April. 

Police received 174 hate or bias occurrence reports last year, 26 of which were hate crimes. This was the highest number of hate incidents the city has seen since 2011, when 180 were reported.