

Codi Wilson, CP24.com





Members of an NDP campaign say they have notified Toronto Police about “unprecedented” theft and damage to about 900 campaign signs in Trinity-Spadina.

Bruce Cox, campaign manager for Joe Cressy, the NDP candidate running in the federal byelection in Trinity-Spadina, said that approximately one third of the campaign signs have been “significantly” damaged or stolen over the past couple of weeks.

"In every campaign we expect a certain amount of damage and loss," Cox said in a statement released Sunday. "But what we've been hit with in the past couple of weeks is targeted and unprecedented."

Cressy faces Liberal candidate Adam Vaughan and Conservative candidate Benjamin Sharma in the race to replace former MP Olivia Chow, who vacated her seat to run for mayor of Toronto. This weekend marks the first time voters are able to vote ahead of the June 30 byelection.

“As far as we know we are being targeted and the other parties aren’t,” campaign volunteer George Smith told CP24.com Sunday afternoon.

Smith said damage and theft has been felt throughout the ward.

“There is a concern that it might be a concerted effort because it is all over,” he said.

“We are talking about 900 signs. That is not a drop in the bucket.”