Vandals have stolen the huge Olympic flag that has been flying at Vancouver City Hall the past year.

Police say someone broke the lock on the flag pole early Tuesday, cut the rope, brought the flag down to the ground and then ripped it off the cable.

The Olympic flag had been flying at Vancouver City Hall for the past year.
(CBC)

Just a small strip of cloth, about 10 centimetres by a metre, was left behind.

Const. Tim Fanning said investigators have no suspects, but they believe there is more than one person involved because of the flag's size and weight.

"The flag, as I understand it, can be very heavy when it's wet and will take several people to be able to manage it."

The missing flag measures 4.87 metres (16 feet) by 7.62 metres (25 feet).

Police expect private security is needed at the flag site now, much like the measures that secure the Olympic clock at the Vancouver Art Gallery.

"Security measures will be changed and adjusted in light of the fact that this flag was stolen," Fanning said.

The Paralympic flag that flies nearby was not damaged.

Fanning said the pole, which cost $6,000, was damaged, and the hand-sewn flag will have to be replaced at a cost of $1,600.