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Coquitlam Mounties seek suspects in tree chopping

Anmore residents are furious after vandals chopped down more than 35 trees on a 20-acre parcel of private land on the south end of Chestnut Crescent.

Anmore residents are furious after vandals chopped down more than 35 trees on a 20-acre parcel of private land on the south end of Chestnut Crescent.

Many of the trees were large cedar, hemlock and fir and much of the surrounding undergrowth and ecology in the area has been severely damaged.

The trees were chopped more than a year ago but police are now going to the public in search for tips that could lead to finding the person or people responsible.

"Residents in this part of the Tri-Cities have a special appreciation for the natural beauty of the land," said Coquitlam RCMP Const. Ryan Smith. "People I talked to are quite rightly upset that someone would brutally chop down these magnificent trees and let them rot."

Smith said the way in which the trees were sawed indicated it was done by untrained individuals. One of the trees crashed through a neighbouring fence, he added.

"Had someone been standing there at the time they would have been seriously injured or killed," Smith said. "This is total disregard for the environment and the safety of others."

Public works officials discovered the tree stumps on March 24, 2011.

Anyone with information about the alleged criminal act is asked to call Smith at 604-809-4407. Anyone wishing to provide information anonymously can do so by calling Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS) or online at www.solvecrime.ca.

gmckenna@tricitynews.com