Barrie police are urging parents to sit down with their kids after an "inappropriate word" was spray-painted on the wall of a school Monday evening in the city's east end.
Shortly after 6 p.m. on Feb. 26, police say a concerned citizen reported a group of youths acting suspiciously.
"The citizen became concerned when the group began to spray-paint the wall of a school located on Davidson Street," police stated in a news release. "Upon arrival of police, the youths responsible had left, but they did leave an inappropriate word on the wall."
Barrie police communications coordinator Peter Leon confirmed the school involved was Oakley Park elementary.
No other information was available about the nature of the message, because a full report has yet to be filed, he added.
Although there are no known suspects, police say this is a criminal act and now creates a situation where a board employee will be required to attend the school unnecessarily to clean the wall where the word was spray-painted.
Police are encouraging parents to sit down with their children and "remind them of the dangers associated with a group gathering as they did last night, especially when their actions lead to criminal activity," the release added.
"When something like this happens, people are obviously not afraid to pick up the phone," Leon said. "Someone is always watching."
Police also thanked the caller for making officers aware of what was happening at the school Monday night, "as their call may have put a quick end to something that could have been much more significant."
