A Peterborough man was apprehended by local police last Wednesday night after embarking on a trail of destruction, vandalising private and public property, with an axe.
Targets for the vandalism were windows at the Post Office, the Peterborough Hotel and Peterborough Video and Electrical store, an information plaque in front of the Railwayman’s Memorial and the Cenotaph and lighting in the subway.
Citizens, including the RSL, have expressed outrage at the vandalism of the War Memorial which included defacing the Roll of Honor of WWI veterans on the Cenotaph’s western-most column, and causing severe damage to the marble ledge under the Honor Roll.
Peterborough resident Maxine Sawyer said shebelieved that, “This Cenotaph is here to commemorate people who gave their lives for this country, and not to serve as a target for louts to vandalise.”
Most damage to private property was quickly repaired but council are awaiting a Stonemason’s inspection of the Cenotaph early this week.
Damage is expected to cost several thousand dollars to repair.
Peterborough Police have said that the man will be charged over the incident.
– Shane Mills