Advertisement

UPDATE: Rescue vessel stolen in Agassiz found by RCMP

Click to play video: 'Who stole a Search and Rescue boat and why?'
Who stole a Search and Rescue boat and why?
WATCH: A search- and rescue boat stolen from a locked storage facility in Agassiz has been found. It was stolen late last night and discovered today in a berry field. As Jill Bennett reports, this is not the first time this SAR team has been targeted by thieves – Mar 17, 2018

The search for a missing rescue vessel is over.

Earlier Saturday morning, B.C.’s search and rescue association said thieves made off with the eight-metre Spirit of Harrison rescue vessel.

The association said at around 10 p.m. Friday night, thieves broke into the locked Kent Harrison search and rescue compound in Agassiz.

Story continues below advertisement

It was last seen heading west on Highway 1 near the Prest Road overpass, near Chilliwack.

Neil Brewer, manager of Kent Harrison SAR, said pieces of the vessel’s mast were found scattered along the highway by another member of his team — tipping the crew off to the theft.

For news impacting Canada and around the world, sign up for breaking news alerts delivered directly to you when they happen.

Get breaking National news

For news impacting Canada and around the world, sign up for breaking news alerts delivered directly to you when they happen.
By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy.

“We realized that they had stolen it with the mast up 18-19 feet high,” Brewer said. “We knew at some point there would be debris because the first overpass they went under, the mast would be sheared off.”

The boat was recovered by RCMP in a field along Keith Wilson Road in Chilliwack. Brewer gave the credit to the story being widely shared on social media, with the original post eventually reaching roughly 18,000 people.

Story continues below advertisement

The Spirit of Harrison is now back in the hands of the SAR, who now have to worry about repairing the mast on an already expensive craft.

“In 2010 we had it valued between $48-60,000, with a replacement value of as much as a quarter-million dollars,” Brewer said.

WATCH BELOW: Aaron McArthur reports on a 2016 call for search and rescue volunteers to be paid, as agencies struggle for funding

Click to play video: 'Should search and rescue workers be paid?'
Should search and rescue workers be paid?

The theft marks the third time the SAR facility has been robbed, with this one the largest score so far. Brewer said the team is looking at beefing up security to protect its equipment and shield the volunteer organization from unnecessary costs.

“It’s a sad reflection on society that people would steal assets that are obviously used for life-saving,” he said.

Story continues below advertisement

With files from Jill Bennett

 

Sponsored content

AdChoices