Officials investigating after vandalism at Lake Country washrooms

The District of Lake Nation stated cleaning soap dispensers had been burned, doorways had been wrenched off of their hinges and rubbish and feces had been smeared round Swalwell Park’s washrooms in mid-October.

District officers estimate the injury prices roughly $2,000.

It’s additionally prompted the early closure of the washrooms weeks forward of their seasonal schedule.

The washrooms are throughout from H.S. Grenda Center Faculty.

A number of witnesses informed World Information that they believed college students had taken half in inflicting a few of the injury.

There may be hypothesis that they may have been motivated by the latest TikTok pattern often known as ‘devious licks’, though the District of Lake Nation is unable to substantiate whether or not or not that’s the case.

The disturbing pattern challenges college students to vandalize bogs for views and likes.

“It’s a option to get recognition from one’s friends, and I believe that’s one thing that younger persons are fairly often curious about,” stated Michael Zajko, an web coverage knowledgeable at UBC Okanagan.

Although the Central Okanagan Faculty District reported an uptick in vandalism at the start of the college yr, this newest incident hasn’t been definitively related with the disturbing pattern.

“It is a actual phenomenon that has been documented in in components of america after which additionally in Canada. It’s actually one potential rationalization right here,” Zajko stated.

“However I believe that it’s a bit rash, to leap to conclusions and blame TikTok for this explicit act of vandalism.”

For folks who’re involved about their kids’s exercise on TikTok, he stated to attempt to keep an open and trusting relationship with children so that they really feel snug sharing.

RCMP stated that a number of native youth have been reported as suspects, however officers haven’t but recognized all events concerned.

Police stated that the case might probably be referred to restorative justice if sure circumstances are met, together with the youth taking accountability for his or her actions.

The District of Lake Nation is planning to reopen the washrooms within the spring.