A couple of St. John’s businessmen awoke to a nasty, and expensive, surprise on Saturday.
Somebody slashed all the tires on three vehicles owned and operated by Urban Contracting, J.J. Walsh Ltd., of St. John’s.
The cost of replacing the tires is expected to come in at more than $3,000, plus an unknown amount for the day of work the contracting crews was unable to operate.
“It’s a big hit for a small company,” said Francis Walsh, company foreman and son of John Walsh, the owner and longtime operator.
John called the vandalism “one of the dirtiest tricks I’ve see in 60 years of demolishing buildings.”
When the work crews parked the vehicles at the company lot on Duckworth Street Friday evening, they were fine, said Francis.
The company has its suspicions about who caused it, he added, and they reported the damage to police, but the company has so far decided not to press charges.
The company is better off to move forward with its repairs and get on with business, added Francis.
This type of thing has happened to the company before,’’ he said.
It has had windows smashed and a tire or two punctured, but this is the first time anyone has gone this far.
“When you’re dealing with men all the time, that’s the business you’re in — but nothing to this extent,” said Francis.
The vehicles were in the shop Monday and were repaired by the afternoon, but a lot of work had to be postponed.
That money will also have to come out of the company coffers, added John. If it went through insurance it would cost the company more in the long run.
cmaclean@thetelegram.com
Twitter: @TelegramMacLean
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