News

:

,

Four robberies, attempted break-ins reported locally in one night

A Google Map of the four locations where robberies or attempted break-ins happened around Sackville this week.
Locations of four robberies or attempted break-ins overnight from Wednesday, Nov. 25, to Thursday, Nov. 26. Photo courtesy of CHMA.
Erica Butler - CHMA - Sackville • NB | 27-11-2020
Share on facebook
Share on twitter
Share on linkedin
Share on pinterest
Share on email
Share on print

Local organizations and businesses have reported four different robberies and/or attempted break-ins, most occurring over the same night, in the Sackville-Dorchester-Rockport area.

The Gitpu Gas Bar, St. Paul’s Church, the Johnson’s Mills Interpretive Centre and the Rockport Community Hall have all reported thefts, break-ins or attempted break-ins.

Two people attempted to break into Gitpu Gas Bar around 6 a.m. on Nov. 26. The business posted stills from their surveillance videos on social media on Thursday morning. Two individuals can be seen in the video carrying a dolly and a large carrier. A vehicle, which looks like a burgundy Honda Santa Fe, was also on the scene.

Two people with a dolly are captured on a surveillance camera at night.

A still from surveillance video posted on social media by Gitpu Gas Bar.

Darlene Turner says that the would-be thieves were unsuccessful getting through the Gitpu Gas Bar security, but they did lots of damage to a window and a security door.

The thieves also did considerable damage at the Johnson’s Mills Shorebird Interpretive Centre. Andrew Holland, of the Nature Conservancy of Canada, says this is the third break in at the centre since the summer.

This time, says Holland, there was damage to doors, locks and security equipment installed since the last break-ins.

“We are still raising money to recover from the previous thefts,“ says Holland.

Someone also broke into the Rockport Community Hall, “made a big mess” and stole items including several bins with supplies used for the hall’s annual Christmas wreath fundraiser, according to a social media post by community member Monica Kaye. The thieves also stole the Hall’s sign, which is not replaceable, according to Kaye.

The Rockport Hall sign hanging high on a wooden wall.

The Rockport Hall sign which was stolen overnight sometime Wednesday, Nov. 25 to Thursday, Nov. 26. Photo courtesy of the Rockport Hall Facebook page.

St. Paul’s Church in Sackville was also robbed. Someone entered the church between 8 p.m. Wednesday and 8 a.m. Thursday, and took the church’s very large safe. Father Craig O’Brien says there was not a lot of damage as there was no forced entry, but the robbery was still a violation. Father O’Brien says the safe is “huge” and that the robbery seemed targeted.

The RCMP have been notified in all cases.