In what Xwesam/Roberts Creek Volunteer Fire Department fire chief called "one of most disgusting acts that our fire department has faced," someone stole diesel from the community's fire hall last week.
The theft of what Sunshine Coast Regional District communications manager Aidan Buckley told Coast Reporter was a "significant" volume of fuel is believed to have happened on the evening of Friday, Sept. 15, after 8:30 p.m. According to a Sept. 19 Facebook posting from the fire department, the perpetrators cut the lock to its fenced-in compound to access a fuel storage tank at the hall, located near the intersection of Highway 101 and Roberts Creek Road.
In a Sept. 22 press release, the Sunshine Coast Regional District confirmed it had replaced the fuel to ensure the community served by the department would not be impacted. It indicated that security monitoring at the hall has been increased and Buckley stated additional security measures are also being planned for.
The release stated the theft "shocked" the volunteers of the department. Included was a statement from fire chief Pat Higgins: "To think that anyone believes they have the right to steal from our fire department and jeopardize our ability to respond to emergencies in our community is completely unacceptable."
Anyone with information related to a theft of diesel from the fire hall is asked to contact the Sunshine Coast RCMP detachment at 604-885-2266. The incident file number to quote is 2023-6769.
