

Chris Herhalt, CP24.com





Three people are facing mischief charges after they allegedly sprayed the interiors and exteriors of several GO train cars with graffiti, prompting police to go undercover to catch them.

Anne Marie Aikins, spokesperson for provincial transit agency Metrolinx, said the vandals would board a late-night Toronto-bound train on the Lakeshore East line and walk until they found an empty car before beginning to spray the seats, windows and walls.

Over several days, the individuals moved to spraying the outside of cars as well.

The acts were captured by on-board security cameras, prompting Durham police and GO Transit officers to set up a stakeout to catch those responsible, Aikins said.

Aikins said officers went undercover on a late-night train, where the suspects were arrested. Aikins said the suspects "did not surrender peacefully" and the takedown was quite "dramatic."

Two Oshawa men, aged 21 and 28 have been charged with mischief over $5,000, along with a 21-year-old Oshawa woman.

The men were also charged with failing to comply with probation.

They were held pending a bail hearing but have all since been released. The tagged train cars have since been cleaned. Seats that were covered with paint could not be cleaned and had to be replaced, Aikins said.

GO Transit spent more than $250,000 last year removing graffiti from trains and stations, Aikins said.