Three Kitimat residents who were tracked down by the RCMP after firewood went missing from Radley Park have agreed to pay up.
On May 20 park staff noticed the occupants of three vehicles loading up firewood believed to cost in the region of $100. They drove out the park without paying, but not before the staff took down their licence plate numbers and reported the theft to their manager.
RCMP Sgt. Graham Morgan said a case of theft under $1,000 was reported to Kitimat RCMP on May 23.
“Police followed up with registered owners of vehicles in an attempt to identify suspects,” said Morgan. “The District of Kitimat was the complainant as they own Radley Park.”
District Leisure Services deputy director Shaun O’Neill said as the theft was under $1,000, it was felt that it would be better to approach the suspects than to pursue the matter in court.
“District staff spoke to the suspects and encouraged them to pay for the wood they had taken,” said O’Neill. “So far, we have at least one if not two come forward to pay for the firewood.”
He said he was disappointed the wood had been stolen, but that he was happy the suspects had taken responsibility for their actions and agreed to compensate the District.
He said from now on the wood would be locked up and only available to campers when DoK staff are on site.
“We are also considering moving towards selling the wood in the park,” said O’Neill.