Police probe threats to MRU student cars parked on street

Some students who park in a neighbourhood around Mount Royal University are getting threatening notices and now police are investigating.

The street in Glamorgan has no parking restrictions but dozens of drivers say they have received a typed message under their windshield wipers after parking there. 

"The general gist of the note is if students continue parking up here, we're going to be getting our cars vandalized," said Dana Sigardson, one of the drivers who received a note.

"I wasn't exactly sure what the threat entailed but it says the well-being of our vehicles are now our responsibility if we continue to park in a legal street."

For many students, on campus parking is too expensive.

Instead they park on nearby roads and streets and walk onto campus. 

"I know exactly why they wrote the note, because they can't access their house during the day in any fashion and they can't contact anyone to ask them to move their vehicle," said Beryl Ostrom, president of the Glamorgan Community Association.

Other residents say while on-street parking in the neighbourhood has increased this year, it isn't really a problem.

"Students don't want to pay parking," said Lee Thompson, who has lived on the street since 1963. "If they're prepared to walk that distance, good for them."

The community says it could start a petition to bring in a parking restriction.

In the meantime students say they will still park on the street — but will be more cautious about where they park.

"Earlier today I parked further down in order not to have my car done," said Sigurdson. "Although it's completely legal, I don't have the money or the funds to fix my car if it is vandalized."