Saskatoon nurse brings attention to rash of vandalism to vehicles at St. Paul's Hospital

A Saskatoon nurse is raising safety concerns after finding her car had been vandalized while she was working a night shift.

Katelyn Butz, a nurse at St. Paul's Hospital in Saskatoon, said her car has been vandalized twice in the last two months, most recently on Saturday night when she was working the night shift. She said about 26 cars have been broken into or vandalized around the hospital in the last two weeks. 

"I was one of five vehicles total that were broken into on Saturday night," Butz said. "Three of them were in the parking lot on hospital property, so unfortunately, there's just no real safe options for us right now."

Butz said nothing was stolen during the recent incidents because she never leaves anything in her car.

Even so, she said she was furious and felt violated, especially given that she's a front-line worker during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Butz posted about the incident on social media. She said her story received an overwhelming response, some of it from complete strangers.

A man from Calgary and a glass shop owner in Saskatoon are covering the costs associated with Butz's glass repair. 

"It totally brought me to tears, I was so moved by their incredible acts of kindness and it just restored my faith in humanity," Butz said. "I'm beyond grateful for them."

She said her co-workers had volunteered to take her to and from work when needed.

The Saskatoon Police Service said it was aware of the rash of vandalism around St. Paul's Hospital and the matter was being investigated.