The
initial break-in in late June, when the traction motor cables for the
#190 was stolen, prompted some reinforcements on the large doors. When
the break-ins continued with no obvious signs of forced entry on the
big doors, we inspected the rest of the Roundhouse, finding snipped
chain-link between the Yes Dear and the eastern wall.The thieves broke
windows, snipped the chain-link originally placed to keep birds out,
and climbed through.
Not only did they steal the traction motor cables, welding leads that
we're able to use anywhere in the Roundhouse for fabrication or
repair-work were taken as well.
At the port-of-entry, remaining pieces of
copper was found, probably because the bike trailer can only hold so
much. Copper tube pipes, a small section of a welding cable, and a
traction motor lead is all that's recovered. They even wrapped it up
neatly with our own bungee cords!
Doyle McCormack, who's projects were hit
hardest with the recent thefts, welds a grate between two poles of the
small section of non-reinforced gate.
As for the Roundhouse, we've made further reinforcements to our windows
and doors, installed additional exterior lighting, and a few other
things that will go unmentioned.
It is estimated that the thieves took $35,000 worth of materials and tools from us, and as a non-profit organization, it hurts.
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We
determined there was no vehicle involved, Union Pacific Police, and
other 24-hour security guards didn't see any unusual activities at the
entrance/exits of the yard. A quick walk around our surroundings, we
found stripped cable between stacked containers and a wall bordering
the bus maintenance facility.
The thieves had dragged hundreds
of feet of cable to this secluded location, and spent hours stripping
and cutting the copper into sections.
Like a trail of coins behind a bank robber, obvious lines of dragging
cable (as seen alongside container) is found between the Roundhouse and
the secluded area.
The thieves port-of-entry was at Holgate Blvd, where the bus
maintenance facility borders the Union Pacific property. Due to trees,
the fence line was brought inward from the street, giving thieves an
opening that isn't entirely visible by the road.
We believe that they stashed the copper behind the containers, and
loaded them onto a bike trailer in sections. A vehicle could've been
used, but unlikely considering the work they went through.
The creme of the
pie. Scrap value of copper is $2.60/lb, that can add up quickly when
it's four pounds of copper per foot, hundreds of feet stolen, stripped,
and transported to scrap dealer.
Note to thieves: You see the pictures, but don't bother looking for
them now, we've gone out of our way to ensure you won't find these
lying around amidst our work projects.
 The thieves were
caught due to leaving evidence at the scene, which DNA was able to be
extracted from, ultimately identifying those who were there. Due to the
current case, we are not in position to go into further details or
identification at this time.
All
photographs are copyrighted by owner, and may not be used for
reproduction.
For more
information, please refer to Copyright Info.
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