James Conway halfway house damaged by vandals

Abbotsford Police claimvandalscaused part of the ceiling to collapse in a home where convicted sexoffender James Conway has been staying.

"It'svery serious mischief with damage in the tens of thousands of dollars," saidCst. Ian MacDonaldwithAbbotsford Police.

MacDonald says at least one suspect crawled into the attic of the home in West Abbotsford with a hose and managed to turn it so that water would flood the house.

• Abbotsford residents: 'Conway not welcome.'
• Residence not zoned for halfway house says city

The ceiling ended up partially collapsing while Conway and two other peoplewere inside.

No one injured

MacDonald says no one was injured, but now assessments are being made about what needs to be repaired and how much of the home is still liveable.

Officers also say they will put cameras in place to keep watch onthe street.

There have been 15 calls to policefor incidents since Conway moved there August 1.

None of them have involved Conway, 40, who has been convicted three times for sexual offences against children.

He is living at the houseunder strict conditionsthat include electronic monitoring.

Vigilante behaviour

"There are criminal ramifications for those who are engaging in this behaviour," said MacDonald. "But we certainly would like to appeal to them from the standpoint of the draw that they're creating on police resources that could be better allocated elsewhere."

People who live nearby have protested outside the home multiple times since Conway began livingthere.

Meanwhile, Abbotsfordcity hall is trying to use land-use and zoning by-laws to prevent the property from being used as ahalfway house.