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CALGARY - Police are investigating a case of profane graffiti spray painted on a Catholic parish in southwest Calgary.
Insp. Terry Larson said cops doing a regular patrol Monday noticed a suspicious vehicle parked off Premier Way S.W.
After checking up on the vehicle, police determined there were two people inside — believed to be youths — who both have histories of graffiti offences.
“They’re known to be prolific graffiti offenders,” said Larson.
“At that point, we had no offence we knew of, so they were released.”
However, about 12:20 p.m., a complaint came in about graffiti being painted on Sacred Heart Church at 1307 14 St. S.W.
“There was some profanity on the church ... extreme profanity,” said Larson.
Police are reviewing some surveillance tapes from the area to try and determine when the graffiti was put up and who is responsible.
The two youths spotted in the vehicle earlier Monday may be considered as suspects, said Larson.
“They’d certainly be strong suspects, but we’re just waiting to see if our investigation leads us there,” he said.
This is the second time in just two days a religious site has been targeted by vandalism.
Sometime between late Saturday night and Sunday morning, the Father Lacombe cemetery at 316 146 Ave. S.E. was struck by vandals, with a number of nuns’ headstones, a statue of Jesus and a cross being damaged.
jenna.mcmurray@sunmedia.ca