Gas theft leaves daycare’s vans in park Holes drilled into three vehicles’ tanks as pump prices shoot skyward; director fumes over repair expense, inconvenience for parents of Windsor Park facility’s 85 kids
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Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 07/03/2022 (1024 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.
Record-setting prices at the fuel pump are likely behind an unusual, inconvenient and potentially catastrophic crime at a Windsor Park daycare on the weekend.
One or more thieves drilled into the gas tanks of three vans at Little People’s Place on Cottonwood Road, made off with the liquid gold and left 85 tots without their usual rides to and from the facility for an indeterminate period of time.
“It’s not been a good week,” said exasperated executive director Carol Jones, adding staff made the discovery first thing Monday.
The vans can’t be driven until the tanks are repaired or replaced because of safety concerns.
“I understand the cost of gas has sent people into a frenzy, but this is extremely frustrating for me as a director of a large daycare centre — this is interrupting people’s lives, and the bottom line is it was a dangerous thing to do.
“Driving children around in a van that has gas leaking — I don’t even want to think about what that could have done.”
Gas prices have spiked around the globe over the past two weeks, which analysts have tied to sanctions against Russia over its ongoing invasion of Ukraine, as well as inflation and world economies ramping up as they begin to emerge from the pandemic.
Winnipeg gas stations posted prices as high as $1.89.9 per litre Monday.
Winnipeg Police Service spokeswoman Const. Dani McKinnon confirmed the daycare gas theft was reported to law enforcement, adding there have been a few similar incidents recently.
“It’s brand new — I’m calling it the catalytic converter 2.0. I think that’s sort of how it’s going to look,” McKinnon said, referring to past thefts of an exhaust pipe component that contains precious metals, which are then resold.
“I think the old-school method we all think of — a hose and siphoning — I don’t believe that’s the method that’s being activated right now. It looks like either puncturing the tank somehow and using something to withdraw the gas or they’re using some type of power tool to breach the tank.”
“It looks like either puncturing the tank somehow and using something to withdraw the gas or they’re using some type of power tool to breach the tank.” – Const. Dani McKinnon
She said such thefts are potentially “very dangerous.”
The temporary loss of the daycare’s three 15-seat vans, which are normally used to transport up to 85 kids back and forth from school each day, has had a ripple effect on their families.
“I had to cancel transportation for yesterday and today, and notify parents that it’s going to be longer. How long it’s going to be, I don’t know,” Jones said.
“Not having the vans and not having the ability to repair them as quickly as we would like to… we don’t know how long these parents are going to be inconvenienced, and that really sucks.”
Jones said the centre was trying to arrange repairs Tuesday; each van carries a $750 insurance deductible.
“It’s difficult, right, anytime somebody has to deal with an Autopac claim, and matching that up with who can repair three large vans is going to take us a little while. I’m hoping to get that all cleared up by the end of the day, so at least we know where we’re going from here,” she said.
“The added concern is once it’s fixed, what’s to stop them from doing it again?”
Jones said the community has been supportive.
“But let’s be honest, it’s not just happening to us,” she said. “It’s put a lot of concern into the current financial situation it’s going to be affecting… not only for the repair of the vehicles but also for the length of time they’re out of commission. (It) is going to affect the parents and their ability to have child care and transportation for them to school.”
“It’s put a lot of concern into the current financial situation it’s going to be affecting… not only for the repair of the vehicles but also for the length of time they’re out of commission.” – Carol Jones
On Tuesday, CTV reported several gas stations in west Toronto have seen increases in the number of incidents in which people fill their tanks and drive off without paying.
McKinnon said she could not speculate on whether similar thefts have increased at Winnipeg gas stations.
Manitoba Public Insurance spokesman Brian Smiley said the Crown corporation doesn’t track gas theft, nor does it have records of damage to fuel tanks from siphoning — such claims would be noted as vandalism.
However, he did offer a tip to dissuade would-be thieves from pilfering petrol.
“If you have an enclosed garage, park the vehicle in the garage. Unfortunately, a lot of people do not have that option. Otherwise, try to park under a lit area,” Smiley told the Free Press.
erik.pindera@freepress.mb.ca
Twitter: @erik_pindera
Erik Pindera
Reporter
Erik Pindera reports for the city desk, with a particular focus on crime and justice.
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History
Updated on Tuesday, March 8, 2022 8:26 PM CST: Adds to school to 13th graf.
