A group of recent Chinese immigrants to the Penticton area were deeply troubled when their new business location was vandalized this weekend, and the perpetrator was caught on CCTV camera shouting what they believe were racist statements. 

"We feel that maybe because we are newcomers, because we are Chinese, or maybe because of the coronavirus, that's why they are doing this to us," Shui Kei Ma said on behalf of the group. She moved to Penticton in April and has so far called her experience in the city very welcoming.

The group took over a business space at 501 Winnipeg Street in January. Ma said she and the other Chinese immigrants that share the space are '"trying to be friends" with all their new neighbours, and are telling their story to the media in the hope of raising awareness in the community and hopefully catching the vandal. 

CCTV footage shows a man just after midnight Saturday morning shouting loudly, and while the audio is difficult to interpret, Ma and others within her group believe they hear the vandal yelling "You don't belong here" and "What are you doing here," in footage shared with Castanet. 

He is seen breaking windows of the business space, then leaving. 

Ma did not have additional footage immediately available, but says there is more that contains specific references to Chinese people with foul language. She believes her group's presence in the neighbourhood may have ruffled some feathers. 

"I don't think in Penticton you could see a bunch of Chinese people so easily," she explained.

The group filed a police report. RCMP Cst. James Grandy said that the investigator has not yet reviewed video evidence but nothing was left at the scene indicating a racial motivation. 

"An alarm went off and the owner arrived to see that two windows on the north side of the building had been smashed with what looked like rocks," Grandy said. "There was nothing spray-painted or messages left."

Ma hopes that someone will recognize the perpetrator and come forward, especially given his distinctive sweatshirt with a large number 96 emblazoned in white across the back.