Sunnybrook Farm Museum has once again become a target for thieves.
At 7 a.m. on Friday morning, a male wearing a hoodie and riding a BMX bike removed a cash donation cream can at the entrance to the museum property. He hid it on the property and staff found it.
Museum executive director Ian Warwick said the thief likely hid the can because he didn’t have the tools to open the can and riding down the street with the can on his bike would have been too conspicuous.
“I think he was planning on coming back the next night with bolt cutters to get into it,” Warwick said on Monday.
Then at 2 a.m. on Saturday, two people wearing hoodies who brought tools, took off with the other cream can on the property.
Warwick said the cans are emptied regularly so it’s likely that not much money was stolen, but it’s a disturbing trend that started last year.
“The people are trying to steal donations from citizens of Red Deer. That’s what’s upsetting to us.
“For 25 years we have operated with these donation bins on our site and they’ve never been touched.”
He said the museum reduced the number of donation cans on site and has had to spend more money on security. Every time a lock on a donation can is broken it costs $25 to replace it.
The thieves were caught on surveillance video that can be seen at https://www.facebook.com/sunnybrookfarmAB.
Anyone with information can contact Red Deer RCMP at 403-343-5575.
szielinski@www.reddeeradvocate.com