Thieves busy heisting logging equipment

NEWS — RCMP are asking for the public’s help solving a series of thefts of logging equipment in the Merritt, Hope and Agassiz areas.

The first incident occurred in the early morning of Jan. 20, 2014 when 3,500 liters of diesel fuel and ignition keys were stolen from four separate pieces of logging equipment parked near Sunshine Valley near Hope.

The area where the equipment was parked is remote and not easily accessible and it is believed that the thief, or thieves, may have had specific knowledge of the operation, police said.

There were three more thefts from logging operations March 13. The first occurred at two locations in Yale, American Creek and Albert Road. The third was at Hicks Lake, north of Agassiz.

At all three locations about 500 liters of diesel fuel and 20 Motorola radios were removed from parked equipment. The radios can be identified by serial numbers that have been entered into the police database.

On March 14, thieves stole a piece of machinery known as a “processor head” at Hicks Lake. This is a piece of logging machinery that picks up harvested trees, removes the limbs and cuts the tree into logs for transport.

The stolen processor head is described as a yellow 2011 320 model CAT valued at $250,000. When new, the machinery costs $998,000. The processor head is readily identifiable by a serial number that has been entered into the police database.

During the weekend of March 15-16 thieves hit a logging operation on Nickel Mine Forest Service road off the Coquihalla Highway. They took 2,000 liters of fuel. As well the onsite ambulance was broken into and equipment taken, including two radios (each $500 ), several fire extinguishers,  an assortment of tools and wrench sets, and a door to a skidder.

Investigators believe that, because the stolen items are specific to the logging industry, they are likely of use only to another logging company. They say the thieves likely had knowledge of the logging industry to commit these thefts of such specialized equipment.

“These thefts have targeted a specific company and are affecting the livelihood and the economic well-being of their employees and the community they live in,” said Cpl. Len vanNieuwenhuizen. The victimized company is based out of Merritt.

Hope RCMP are asking anyone with information to contact Hope RCMP at 604-869-7750 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).