Community Alert: Vandalism at Elizabeth Drive Ball Park in Gander

Section 1: The Alert

Gander RCMP is investigating a break and enter, along with significant vandalism, at a building that is still under construction on the grounds of the Elizabeth Drive Ball Park in Gander, Newfoundland and Labrador. Police are appealing to the public for any information that could help identify those responsible.

The incident occurred sometime between the morning of Friday, June 26, and late morning on Monday, June 29. During that period, one or more individuals gained access to the unfinished structure and caused damage inside. Residents and park users in the area are urged to review anything they may have seen or heard over that weekend and to report it to police.

Section 2: Official Details

According to information released by Gander RCMP, officers are investigating a property crime involving a construction site on the local baseball park grounds. The location involved is:

• A building under construction at the Elizabeth Drive Ball Park in Gander.

The timeline of the incident is as follows:

• Offence window: Between approximately 9:00 a.m. on Friday, June 26 and 11:00 a.m. on Monday, June 29.
• During this time, an unknown person or persons entered the construction site and went inside the partially built structure.

Inside the building, investigators found evidence of deliberate vandalism:

• Paint was poured onto the floor.
• Paint was also poured on interior doors within the structure.

At this time, no suspect description, arrests, or charges have been released. The investigation by Gander RCMP is ongoing.

Public Assistance Requested

RCMP is explicitly asking the public for help. If you noticed suspicious people, vehicles, or activity around the Elizabeth Drive Ball Park construction area between June 26 and June 29, your information could be important to this case.

• To contact police directly, call Gander RCMP at 709-256-6841.
• To provide information anonymously, contact Crime Stoppers:
  • Phone: 1-800-222-TIPS (8477)
  • Online: www.nlcrimestoppers.com
  • Mobile: Use the P3Tips app

CrimeCanada.ca encourages anyone in the community who may have seen or heard anything unusual near the park or construction site during the specified timeframe to come forward. Even details that seem minor—such as unfamiliar vehicles parked near the ball park or people loitering around the construction zone—may assist investigators.

Section 3: CrimeCanada.ca Safety Perspective

From the perspective of CrimeCanada.ca, incidents like this break and enter with vandalism at a community sports facility matter for more than just the cost of repairs. Damage to public recreation spaces can disrupt local events, youth sports, and community gathering places. These types of crimes may also signal broader issues with property offences in the area. Residents who want to understand the wider context of local crime trends can review our Gander Crime Statistics & Safety Report for additional data and analysis.

Construction sites, especially in public areas like ball parks, are frequent targets for mischief and unauthorized entry. To support safer neighbourhoods, we recommend that community members:

• Report suspicious activity around construction sites, parks, and recreational buildings immediately to police.
• Take note of dates, times, and any distinguishing details (clothing, vehicles, license plates) when observing unusual behaviour.
• Encourage youth and visitors to respect fenced or posted construction zones, and to speak up if they witness damage or trespassing.

CrimeCanada.ca’s mission is to support safer communities across Newfoundland and Labrador by combining timely alerts with broader safety data. Community cooperation with law enforcement, especially in property crime investigations, is critical to preventing repeat incidents and protecting shared public spaces.

Official Source & Community Safety

This safety alert is based on an official release from the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP). CrimeCanada.ca aggregates and analyzes this data to keep the newfoundland-and-labrador community informed, aware, and safe. We are an independent safety data aggregator and not the original creators of the underlying incident report.

Read the full official release here: RCMP Official Statement.