[MSN] Canada. Valuable plaques stolen from heritage sites

[Museum Security Network Mailinglist]

Valuable plaques stolen from heritage sites 
By Martin C. Barry 

 Valuable plaques stolen from heritage sites 
By Martin C. Barry 
Parks Canada is searching for a new way to install brass historic plaques,
following the theft of nine such markers in recent months all over
Montreal—including one at St. Léon de Westmount Church. 
The plaque at St. Léon, commemorating the church's painted interior frescoes
completed in the early 20th century by celebrated religious artist Guido
Nincheri, was installed by a Parks Canada division, the Historic Sites and
Monuments Board, in 1999. 

The plaque was pried loose and stolen from a concrete pedestal in front of
the church some time at the end of March, said Father Yves Guillemette, St.
Léon's pastor. 

Parks Canada has promised to replace it in the next few months, he added.
The HSMBC's distinctive maroon and gold coloured plaques have an estimated
value of $2,000 to $3,000 each. 

Guillemette confirmed that the manner in which the St. Léon plaque was
originally installed made it easy to remove. "It was a pretty simple
installation," he said. One St. Léon parishioner noted the ease with which
the thieves were probably able to loosen the plaque from its base, using
just a crowbar. 

He pointed out how it was secured in place with little more than epoxy
cement. He suggested the theft of the plaque, and of those elsewhere, was
the work of one or more persons reselling them as valuable metal to scrap
dealers. 

Francine Émond, director of the western Quebec field unit of Parks Canada,
told The Examiner that her department is currently reviewing the method that
will be used to install brass plaques in the future. All the Canada Parks
historic plaques stolen in recent months in Montreal were outdoors. 

"We are in contact with experts and our counterparts in Montreal because we
are in the middle of reviewing the way we install the plaques, in such a way
as to strengthen the anchoring methods," Émond said. "We will be able to
reinstall as quickly as possible, we hope, the plaques in locations where
they were stolen or damaged, but hopefully while taking additional
measures." 

At least two dozen other brass commemorative plaques installed by the City
of Montreal and the province have also been stolen, or damaged during
attempted thefts, in the same period. At about the same time, the City of
Westmount has reported the loss of many metal commemorative markers placed
on trees by residents in remembrance of deceased friends and relatives. 

Émond would not speculate on who has been stealing the Parks Canada plaques.


"That responsibility belongs more to the police force who have the duty of
conducting that kind of investigation," she said. "We have not received
explanations to date on the motives that could be behind these thefts or
damages that have occurred." 

She said all new Parks Canada plaques will be installed using a more secure
method to minimize the risk of theft. "There's always a risk," she said. "It
is a situation that calls for the civic sense of responsibility of citizens.
The majority of citizens have an attitude of civic responsibility. But there
are unfortunate things like this that happen." 

http://www.westmountexaminer.com/