A Hamilton, Ont. man accused of stealing aluminum bleachers from an Ancaster, Ont., ballpark and trying to sell them as scrap is facing multiple charges.
Police allege the 28-year-old ripped out the metal bleachers at the Little League Baseball Park at 268 Jerseyville Rd. and tried to cash them in Tuesday morning at a metal recycler in the city.
The value of the seats is estimated to be in the $10,000 range, according to investigators.
A spokesperson for Ancaster Little League says a security camera at a nearby ice cream parlour was able to get a good picture of the suspect for investigators.
Chris Davies, director of promotions and special events for the organization, says the outlet will seek to add surveillance cameras throughout the park and weld the bolts that hold the bleachers in place.
The park’s operators started a GoFundMe campaign to raise funds to replace the seats. As of Aug. 3, just over $15,000 has been pledged.
“We even got a donation from the scrapyard company that was involved in reporting the theft where the thieves took our bleachers to,” Davies explained.
The group has been receiving money from the community, local businesses and even other baseball organizations, like Ancaster Angels.
The man accused of the theft, identified in a release, is facing seven charges in all, including three related to theft over $5,000 and four others connected with failing to comply with probation.