Local organizations and businesses have reported four different robberies and/or attempted break-ins, most occurring over the same night.
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 6am on Thursday, November 26, 2020. 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 look like a burgundy Hyundai Santa Fe was also on the scene.
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.
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.
St. Paul’s Church in Sackville was also robbed. Someone entered the church between 8pm Wednesday and 8am 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.
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