The Pax Natura Ranch for the Deaf was once again the target of a break-in, with the culprits doing significant damage.
Westlock RCMP Const. Craig Armstrong said the break-in took place overnight on Friday, Sept. 26 or early morning Sept. 27.
“There was some damage to the front gate that has been repaired and it’s working. As well there was some damage to a holiday trailer on the property,” he said.
Pastor Bob Bauer, who has helped oversee the ranch since its inception in the 1970s, said he’s frustrated the ranch is being repeatedly targeted.
“This is our fourth of fifth time,” he said. “I’m trying to be forgiving.”
The ranch was broken into and vandalized last January, with the culprits doing significant damage to one of the buildings on the property, including completely destroying two bathrooms.
Prior to that there were other break-ins, and in one case several firearms and some ammunition were stolen.
Bauer said they have increased monitoring and surveillance, and it was someone helping out with the ranch who first discovered the damage when he arrived to do some work on Saturday morning.
“The gate was wrecked, and we have another young man who has done some surveillance work for us, he brought his trailer out to show a presence,” Bauer said. “Instead of attacking our buildings they attacked his. It was a nice little trailer and they just clobbered it.”
While the damage to property is concerning -— the ranch is a not-for-profit facility that relies on donations of money and work-in-kind from the community — a bigger problem is the impact it has on the potential users.
“Our deaf people are afraid to go out there, because it might be dangerous. They might be the same guys who stole my rifles and shotguns with all the ammunition,” Bauer said. “The RCMP said ‘now they’re not only thieves, they’re dangerous.’ It could be the same guys, and they are dangerous.”
Armstrong said police currently have no suspects in the break-in. Anyone with information about this break-in or any other crime is asked to contact Westlock RCMP at 780-349-4492, or people can report information anonymously to Crime Stoppers at 1-888-222-8477.
