The Capital Regional District has responded to three incidents of broken glass and screws on the E&N Regional Trail in the past few weeks and are asking trail users to exercise caution.
Jeff Leahy, senior manager with CRD Regional Parks and Trails, said all three incidents have taken place in the area between Burnside Road West and Kislingbury Lane.
The most recent one occurred on Wednesday, with broken glass bottles and screws spread across the trail.
This morning, #crdparks responded to an incident of broken glass & screws on the E&N Regional Trail between Burnside Rd West and Kislingbury. It has been cleaned up, but we encourage trail users to use caution in the area. Please report any suspicious activity to @WestshoreRCMP pic.twitter.com/LtMairZE16
— CRD (@crd_bc) November 28, 2018
Leahy called the scattering of glass and screws on the trail an act of vandalism and said it appears to be a pretty recent occurrence on the trail. He noted in all three incidents, CRD Regional Parks and Trails and local police have been able to get to the location as soon as possible to clean it up.
READ MORE: Victoria cyclist finds thumb tacks spread across Galloping Goose Trail
“The local police and ourselves take these acts of vandalism very seriously because it does pose a concern for all our trail users,” Leahy said. “You have people with pets, there’s children … it is definitely a safety concern.”
Leahy said CRD Parks staff, local police and bylaw officers have stepped up patrols along the area as well. He hopes they’ll be able to identify the individual responsible.
The CRD is also asking E&N Regional Trail users to exercise caution when in the area between Burnside Road West and Kislingbury Lane.
About one month ago, a cyclist on the Galloping Goose found hundreds of silver thumb tacks spread across the path after one punctured her tire.
READ MORE: Anti-smoking protest giving Saanich woman the creeps
Over the summer, a Saanich woman came across strange items and cryptic messages — like a dead snake, motor oil and garbage — on a rock she sat on when taking a cigarette break. The rock was located near Lochside trail.
She later found a note on the rock from someone who claimed they were part of a cycling group who lost six members to smoking-related deaths.
As for the recent events on the E&N Regional Trail, Leahy said people are encouraged to report anything concerning.
“Anybody that’s using the trail, if they see anything suspicious, contact the local police or ourselves,” Leahy said.
shalu.mehta@goldstreamgazette.com
