London Drugs is stepping in with a $10,000 donation after two North Shore Rescue caches have been vandalized in the span of a few days.
At some point over the weekend, someone broke into a cache located in a remote area in Hanes Valley and stole $15,000 worth of equipment that included sleeping bags, first aid kits, rescue ropes and a chainsaw.
A helicopter emergency landing pad at the site was also vandalized.
On Thursday, another cache in North Vancouver was broken into. Some supplies were taken and a lock has been smashed.
North Shore Rescue says it will take $7,000 to repair the damage and replace what was stolen.
Clint Mahlman, Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of London Drugs, says they are donating the money to help replace stolen equipment.
“It would be horrible to find out that heading into the long weekend and with so many people in the backcountry, a rescuer may be put in harm’s way because of someone’s senseless act,” he says.
Mahlman says having served as a search and rescue volunteer himself, he understands the repercussions of the theft.
“When I was growing up on the Sunshine Coast, I volunteered for a local search and rescue team,” he says. “I remember going to the North Shore for some training, because even back then, they were seen as one of the preeminent groups…I certainly understand firsthand how hard these volunteers work to acquire the equipment and what a devastating blow it is when you have vandalism like what occurred.”
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