Security has been tightened up at the Credit Union CUPlex site following a vandalism spree Sunday, March 18 that resulted in an estimated $60,000 to $65,000 damage.
Staff from a local security company will be on site overnight from now until the project is complete, according to Parks and Recreation Director Keith Anderson.
Anderson says the major portion of the damage was inflicted on the theatre, although the aquatic was also broken into.
At the theatre, vandals threw cinder bricks from an upper roof to a lower section of the roof, damaging the roofing surface in several places.
Inside mirrors were smashed and walls damaged. The vandals also climbed to the catwalk and threw open cans of paint into the seating area. Anderson says the seats themselves were still in boxes, but the projectiles burst some of the crates and the seats were splattered with paint.
In the aquatic centre a hammer was used to smash tiles in a change room.
There was minor damage to construction equipment outside and inside, with expensive construction ladders among the casualties.
Anderson couldn't say how long the vandals were on site, but said a battery-operated clock in the theatre office, which was also broken into, stopped at 2:50 a.m. when it was smashed.
Anderson explained that since the city has not taken possession of the CUPlex, the contractor's insurance will cover the physical damage. A significant amount of lost wages incurred, because workers had to be sent home from the site Monday while the RCMP conducted their investigation, are not included in the estimate of damages.
Anderson also put to rest rumours the site was left unlocked after hours.
"A wrecking bar or crowbar was used to pry open two (locked) doors," he said.
