Private security led police to two youths suspected of spray-painting graffiti on two Orillia schools.
Last year, Orillia OPP began investigating after receiving complaints about the tags "Bane" and "Casper" being spray-painted in various locations in town. On Dec. 8, two youths were arrested, police stated in a news release issued Wednesday.
While Const. Martin Hill said he has seen those two tags "all over town," the youths were charged in connection to two incidents, which occurred at Patrick Fogarty Catholic Secondary School on Commerce Road and Monsignor Lee Catholic School on Fittons Road.
Each has been charged with mischief under $5,000.
While tips from the public are encouraged and help direct police to areas that have been vandalized, it was private security that gave police the information they needed to make these arrests.
"The school was seeing an increase in vandalism, so they hired security guards," Hill said. "People don't like their stuff being vandalized. It's just a matter of time before people start taking action (like this)."
Police are still looking for whoever is responsible for spray-painting "JESP" at numerous locations in the south end of town, particularly in the areas of West Street South as well as Gill Street.
Anyone with information about graffiti or other crimes is encouraged to contact OPP at 888-310-1122 or Crime Stoppers at crimestopperssdm.com or 800-222-8477.
