Vehicles broken into, vandalized with graffiti in River Heights

Several residents in River Heights woke up Sunday morning to find their vehicles scratched, spray-painted and broken into.

Ahmad Asmat awoke to find his silver four-door sedan had been spray-painted white in parts. It was parked on Rockwood Street Saturday night.

The vandals also broke into his vehicle and poured oil all over the seats, he said. 

"I don't think it's clean or even safe to sit in," he said. "It's quite frustrating."

Ron Haydon has lived in the neighbourhood for 40 years and his vehicle was among eight that were spray-painted Sunday. Haydon said he is fed up and feels instances of vandalism have been on the rise in the neighbourhood.

"It's really annoying every time that something like this happens," Haydon said. "You have to take your car somewhere to get it fixed or you have to go buy brand new tires, and it's just really, really annoying."

Bryce Fulton, who has lived on the street for 25 years, said his car has been broken into and vandalized several times over the past month. Fulton said the issue has become such a nuisance that he has considered moving out of the neighbourhood.

Fulton added he wants to see more of a police presence in the area in the evenings.

"I don't know what to do at this point. There's been vandalism, smashed windows, garages broken into — it's pretty much non-stop," he said. "It seems like every single weekend something happens."

Winnipeg police are encouraging members of the community to look out for one another and report any suspicious activity.