Sometime between the hours of 6 p.m. on March 11 and 9:30 a.m. on March 12, the Wandering River transfer site was broken into.
The pair of cattle gates that are locked across the transfer site road at closing time were pulled down, shearing the wooden support posts from the ground.
Transfer site operator Jennifer Batiuk received a call around 9:30 a.m. notifying her that the gates were down. She later called the RCMP.
It is unclear if anything was taken, but Batiuk suspects the trespasser attempted to get into the operating shack.
“I could barely get the lock out of the latch because there was so much pressure on it,” Batiuk said.
Similar incidents have occurred three times since March of 2013 at the Wandering River transfer site. Previous break-ins have resulted in tools, a fire extinguisher, a first aid kit, and other operational supplies being taken from the shack.
“It’s totally ridiculous,” Batiuk said.
According to Rob Smith, manager of the Athabasca Regional Waste Management Services Commission, similar incidents have occurred in the past year at the Boyle, Colinton and Perryvale sites.
Smith explained that previously, burglars would steal lead-acid batteries for their value; however, these are now quickly removed from sites, and all cash is removed at the end of the day.
“For us, it’s just a pain, and it’s getting frustrating,” Smith said. Smith is appealing to the public to look out for suspicious activity when passing by transfer sites.
“If the public know this is happening, maybe they can keep their eyes open at the sites,” Smith said.
