A number of motorists with out-of-province licence plates had their tires slashed in Saanich over the weekend.
According to the Saanich Police Department, they received reports from two different drivers with Alberta licence plates that their tires had been slashed.
Both incidents took place in the 1700-block of Cedar Hill Cross Road sometime between Saturday night and early Sunday morning.
One of those who had their tires slashed was University of Victoria student Nigel Swab, who now has a new sign that reads “UVic Student – please stop vandalizing my car” on his rear window.
Swab said he found that both his rear tires had been slashed while leaving the apartment complex his partner lives in on Sunday morning.
“I was angry off the start, but after a while, it’s just become a little more frustrating and a little bit stress-inducing with all the things I have to do.” Swab said.
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The Calgary native has called Vancouver Island home for the past four years and because he is a full-time student he’s not required to get B.C. plates. He says he isn’t the only student to have had their tires slashed.
“There are at least two other people that I know of with Alberta or non-province plates that got slashed. One of them is a student, so it seems to me at least that it’s probably targeted,” said Swab.
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Throughout the pandemic, there have been numerous reports on Vancouver Island regarding hostility towards those driving around with out-of-province licence plates.
And with the COVID-19 situation in Alberta getting worse by the day, it’s possible that tensions towards our neighbors to the east could be boiling over, which has Saanich PD coming to the defence, once again, of out-of-province drivers.
“These people who own the vehicles have the right to be here and certainly because they have out-of-province plates doesn’t mean that they’re the ones responsible for transmitting any kind of virus in our community,” said Const. Markus Anastasiades, media spokesperson with the Saanich Police Department.
As for Swab, who is now on the hunt for two new tires, he’s hoping people will stop jumping to conclusions.
“There are lots of people that have circumstances that you may not know,” Swab said. “I know people that may have to be up here to take care of someone who’s sick or elderly, so just maybe take a minute and think about what you’re actually doing to someone.”
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Ben Nesbit
