'Your gas guzzler kills': Edmonton woman finds warning on her SUV along with deflated tires

Edmontonian has tires deflated An Edmontonian had her tires deflated, and an environmental group has claimed responsibility. David Ewasuk explains.

A vigilante trend of deflating SUV and pickup tires in the name of environmental protection appears to have arrived in Edmonton with one victim calling it "frustrating."

Brandee Rintoul found two tires on her Honda SUV deflated Sunday along with a note, apparently from "The Tire Extinguishers."

Similar flyers have been found on vehicles with deflated tires in Victoria and Kitchener.

"SUVs are unnecessary, and pure vanity," the note says. "We are taking actions into our own hands, because our governments and politicians will not."

Rintoul pumped up her tires and said she's not changing vehicles, but will probably install security cameras on her home in the McQueen neighbourhood.

"The (vandals) don’t know why people pick the vehicle they drive. It’s not necessarily that I picked this because it’s a gas guzzler or whatever," Rintoul told CTV News Edmonton.

"My sister and I do a lot of stuff together, our two families, on the weekends and stuff. So one of the reasons I bought this is because it fits her family and mine. So rather than taking two vehicles to the lake, we take one."

TIRES SLASHED IN DELWOOD

Dozens of deflations by "The Tire Extinguishers" have been reported in both Ontario and B.C., but a spokesperson for Edmonton Police Service said he wasn't aware of any rash of similar acts in the Alberta capital.

EPS did, however, confirm that tires on 13 vehicles were slashed in the Delwood area of northwest Edmonton Sunday night, with no reports of any notes being left there.

"I hope I never see you, hope I never catch you myself, is all I have to say about that," Frank Castiglione said while putting new rubber on his 4x4 pickup.

"If they’re just going to let the air out with no damage, go ahead, every day. I’ll pump it up every morning, but don’t puncture the sidewalls."

The Delwood slashings were still under investigation Monday, Sgt. Dan Thames said.

"The Tire Extinguishers" website offers a "how to" video on tire deflation along with printable notes in several languages.

With files from CTV News Edmonton's David Ewasuk