A Westmount resident says in light of a string of playground arsons throughout the city, it’s time to start “a good old-fashioned community watch.”
Speaking on The Craig Needles Show Friday morning, Westmount resident Tom Trampleasure says he’s fed up with the damage being done to the city’s playground and he’s willing to help find a solution.
“Maybe give up a few hours of sleep a couple nights of week, get a thermos of coffee and go hang out at the parks with a cell phone and just keep an eye on things. If nothing else, at least maybe it would act as a deterrent.”
Trampleasure says he’s not encouraging vigilantism, but thinks that a community watch may be the best thing to prevent it from continuing to be a problem.
“The thought popped into my head that maybe it’s time that we organize a good old-fashioned community watch and just keep an eye on the parks until the police can deal with this matter.”
Tom says anyone wishing to join him can email: [email protected].
The call to the community comes as more playgrounds were targeted by arsonists in the White Oaks area and a playground in Ingersoll Thursday night.
London firefighters responded to the playground at Rick Hansen Public School near Jalna Blvd. and Bradley Ave. at around 11:30 p.m.
A shopping cart full of garbage and wooden sticks had been set ablaze, but it was extinguished before it spread to any of the playground equipment nearby.
Another suspected arson close to a home, also happened around the same time Thursday night.
Fire crews responded to a report of a car-port on fire at a now vacant former group home near Oxford St. and Wharncliffe Rd. which resulted in $30,000 in damage. Firefighters were able to extinguish the blaze before it spread to the home.
Meanwhile, Oxford County OPP responded to mischief done to playground equipment in Lorne Moon Park on Davis St. in Ingersoll on Thursday.
Suspects reportedly damaged a slide by putting a hole in it. Damage is estimated at $2,000.
Over the past three days, there have now been four suspicious fires in London, and at least seven since last month — including five targeting playgrounds.
So far this week, playgrounds at Rick Hansen Public School and St.Jude Elementary School have been targeted.
Last Wednesday, the playground in nearby Jesse Davidson Park was torched in a suspected arson case. Fire crews were called to a fire at that playground near Viscount Rd. and Andover Dr. at around 4 a.m. There was $25,000 damage in that blaze.
The same fire crew responded to a playground fire behind Arthur Ford Public School on Viscount Rd just over one month ago on July 12th. It appears as if vandals set fire to the playground area, melting a slide and several other pieces of plastic equipment. There was $50,000 damage reported in that fire and the playground has since been removed.
London Police also confirmed last week that some playground equipment at St.Jude Elementary School was damaged in an early morning fire on July 31st.
Anyone with information is being asked to contact London Police at 519-661-5670 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).
Source: More Overnight Playground Fires Provoke Londoner To Create Community Watch | (CFPL AM) AM 980
