Yellowknife woman's antique car among those spray painted in alleged parking garage vandalism

Gerri Saville has always loved Volkswagen Beetles.

She bought her first one in the 1970s.

"I was young, I was single — it was just a good, good time," Saville said with a chuckle.

To rekindle those memories of the good old days, the Yellowknife woman bought a nearly identical car in 2007.

It was one of multiple vehicles spray painted at a parking garage in a string of what police are calling alleged vandalism incidents that took place over the weekend and into Monday morning. 

"I've pampered, I've babied it. I didn't even drive it up here, I had it trailered up here from Edmonton," Saville said.

Since then, she said it's been kept in an underground parking garage downtown at Centre Square Mall to "keep it safe and in prime shape" — until this past weekend.

According to Yellowknife RCMP, several vehicles were first spray painted between Saturday evening and Sunday morning at a parking lot near 50 Avenue and 49 Street.

A second similar vandalism incident is believed to have happened between 2 a.m. and 3 a.m. MT Monday, an RCMP news release said Tuesday. 

"I didn't think anything of it, until my friends in Northern Heights sent me pictures and [I saw] my little car got vandalised," Saville explained.

Saville believes her car was targeted both times.

"I'm upset, but it is what it is," Saville said, noting she's planning to call a local auto body shop to give "the Bug" a new paint job.

Yellowknife RCMP are now asking anyone with information about these incidents to call them at 867-669-1111 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477. Tipsters can also email nwtnutips.com, or text "nwtnutips" plus their message to 274-637.