West Vancouver Police are investigating in an effort to identify suspects

WEST VANCOUVER (NEWS 1130) – West Vancouver Police are investigating threatening graffiti that targets both the district council and West Vancouver Mayor Mary-Ann Booth.

Police received a report of graffiti at 1552 Esquimalt Ave. on July 31. On arrival, officers found three large information boards defaced with the words, “Kill Booth” and “Kill Council” in large letters in spray paint.

.@WestVanPolice says they'll do a risk assessment about whether the mayor's office needs increased patrols as the billboards were about a block away from her office. Officers hoping anyone with info./surveillance comes forward. Believed to happen btwn. 3p on Jul. 30/ and 7a yest. — Sonia Aslam (@SoniaSAslam) August 1, 2019

Cst. Kevin Goodmurphy with West Vancouver Police says this is very concerning.

“We take all reports of threats seriously, and an investigation has been launched in an effort to identify any suspects,” he says.

Goodmurphy says they are in contact with the mayor and council.

“As we would in any case when it comes to personal threats against someone, we do often conduct a risk assessment and look at all the sorts of circumstances at play here and we’ll make a determination following that threat assessment,” he says.

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Donna Powers, Director of Community Relations and Communications for the district says these are extreme threats.

“There’s no place for them, whether they are directed at an elected official or any individual, just a regular citizen,” says Powers. “There’s just no place for this in our community or any community.”

She says this is “very clearly a criminal act” and a “direct threat.”

The information boards have been removed.

Police are asking for anyone who may have information to contact them at 604-925-7300. Individuals who wish to remain anonymous can contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.

– With files from Sonia Aslam and Marcella Bernardo