Smashed toilets, broken doors: B.C. Mounties say they're investigating what may have been a TikTok stunt
Extreme damage to public washrooms in Surrey, B.C., parks is under investigation and Mounties say they believe the vandalism may be connected to a social media trend.
Mounties said Tuesday the damage has been noted "over the last few months," especially in the city's Cloverdale area.
According to the RCMP, damage to public washrooms has included smashed toilets, stolen soap dispensers, and broken partitions and vents.
In their update, Mounties said the damage "could be related to a social media trend where youth film themselves causing damage to washrooms." Those videos are then sometimes posted to apps like TikTok, police said.
"These acts of vandalism are unacceptable and have caused significant damage to our much-needed public washroom facilities," said Const. Sarbjit K. Sangha in a news release.
Photos released by Mounties of the damage show one toilet completely smashed into small pieces and another removed off its base.
Other social media trends have prompted warnings from police in recent weeks. In Ontario, local police issued a warning late last month over an online challenge that encourages people to kick in the doors of homes. The warning was issued after a home security camera appeared to show three young people filming themselves doing the challenge.
A report commissioned by TikTok and published last month found that half of teens surveyed participate in online challenges to gain views, comments and likes. Forty-six per cent of teens said impressing others was one of their top reasons.
The survey found, however, that most teens don't take part in challenges. Only 21 per cent of teens said they participated in an online challenge of any type.
"We encourage parents to speak to their children about the fact that committing an illegal act, all for the sake of online popularity or likes, can have consequences now and into the future," Sangha said.
In relation to the Surrey incidents, Mounties said they'll be patrolling parks to keep an eye on washroom facilities. Anyone with information about the recent vandalism is asked to call 604-599-0502.
With files from CTV News' Hannah Jackson and CTV News London's Bryan Bicknell
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Indian envoy warns of 'big red line,' days after charges laid in Nijjar case
India's envoy to Canada insists relations between the two countries are positive overall, despite what he describes as 'a lot of noise.'
Stormy Daniels describes meeting Trump during occasionally graphic testimony in hush money trial
With Donald Trump sitting just feet away, Stormy Daniels testified Tuesday at the former president's hush money trial about a sexual encounter the porn actor says they had in 2006 that resulted in her being paid to keep silent during the presidential race 10 years later.
U.S. paused bomb shipment to Israel to signal concerns over Rafah invasion, official says
The U.S. paused a shipment of bombs to Israel last week over concerns that Israel was approaching a decision on launching a full-scale assault on the southern Gaza city of Rafah against the wishes of the U.S.
Former homicide detective explains how police will investigate shooting outside Drake's Bridle Path mansion
Footage from dozens of security cameras in the area of Drake’s Bridle Path mansion could be the key to identifying the suspect responsible for shooting and seriously injuring a security guard outside the rapper’s sprawling home early Tuesday morning, a former Toronto homicide detective says.
Northern Ont. woman makes 'eggstraordinary' find
A chicken farmer near Mattawa made an 'eggstraordinary' find Friday morning when she discovered one of her hens laid an egg close to three times the size of an average large chicken egg.
Susan Buckner, who played spirited cheerleader Patty Simcox in 'Grease,' dead at 72
Susan Buckner, best known for playing peppy Rydell High School cheerleader Patty Simcox in the 1978 classic movie musical 'Grease,' has died. She was 72.
Jeremy Skibicki has 'uphill battle' to prove he's not criminally responsible in Winnipeg killings: legal analysts
Accused killer Jeremy Skibicki could have a challenging time convincing a judge that he is not criminally responsible for the deaths of four Indigenous women, a legal analyst says.
Bye-bye bag fee: Calgary repeals single-use bylaw
A Calgary bylaw requiring businesses to charge a minimum bag fee and only provide single-use items when requested has officially been tossed.
Alcohol believed to be a factor in boating incident after 2 men die: N.S. RCMP
Two Nova Scotia men are dead after a boat they were travelling in sank in the Annapolis River in Granville Centre, N.S., on Monday.