London

Someone smashed the windows at the Crouch Branch Library again

The Crouch Branch public library on Hamilton Road is experiencing an “uptick” in vandalism this year, after staff called police for the fourth or fifth time Thursday morning to report broken window panes.

Other businesses in the neighbourhood have also dealt with vandalism

A broken window at London's Crouch Branch public library on Hamilton Road. (@ian_michaelldnfan/Instagram)

The Crouch Branch library on Hamilton Road is experiencing an "uptick" in vandalism this year, after staff called police for the fourth or fifth time Thursday morning to report broken window panes.

"It's an issue that's been happening in the neighbourhood," explained Nancy Collister, the London Public Library's manager of customer service and branch operations.

"We're aware other businesses have been experiencing the issue."

Staff at the Crouch Branch public library have called police to report damaged windows four or five so far this year. (@ian_michaelldnfan/Instagram)

Collister doesn't have safety concerns for staff at the library, but does acknowledge it can be "demoralizing" to see buildings damaged and in need of repair.

Replacing the windows has never been expensive enough to warrant an insurance claim, but Collister says it usually runs the library a couple hundred dollars.

"They're a very thick pane of glass, so it's always the outer pane that's been shattered," she said.

The library is looking into adjusting its surveillance cameras and lights, but is waiting until construction in the area — which includes the creation of a small flex street on Sackville Street beside the library — is over.

"I truly think it's an anomaly," Collister added.

"The Hamilton Road neighbourhood is a great neighbourhood. We have wonderful relationships with the organizations and the public there. It's well supported. [The staff] will bounce back."