TIMMINS – Kraymer Grenke's election office was broken into and ransacked over the Thanksgiving weekend.
The Conservative team took time to tidy up after the police finished their investigation, but marks of the escapade remain.
It's the third time Grenke's office has been broken into during his campaign, but with the election close ahead, he's pushing forward.
"It's quite unfortunate but it's not going to hold us back at this point. We're less than a week away from elections, we're going to go into the last week strong," said Grenke.
Campaign staff members say the intruders broke in using a crowbar.
Officers say behaviour this extreme is unheard of in the city.
"Nonetheless, if this is a crime for profit, the aspects of it are rather scant. This seems to be more a crime of mischief," commented Marc Depatie, Timmins Police.
Other candidates in the Timmins–James Bay riding expressed their disappointment by the break-in.
"While we may disagree on policy, I stand with him and all the candidates in Timmins—James Bay against any act of vandalism or damage to one another's property… It takes away from our community's capacity to engage respectfully on the issues that matter most," stated Liberal Candidate Michelle Boileau.
The local NDP campaign team says tampering with campaign signs is common, albeit still illegal, but this latest incident is inexcusable.
"If you're frustrated with a party, don't vote for them or share your information or make it known. But causing additional work and additional burden is really not necessary in an election campaign," said Julie Demarchi, NDP Campaign Manager.
Despite the incident, Grenke says it hasn't kept him from going back on the road to visit communities and continue his final push before Election Day.
