[MSN] Australia. Museum theft. Cannington museum hit by thieves

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Cannington museum hit by thieves
Date: 2007-06-21 
Author: Scott Howard

'I guess that even if it's nailed down, someone will find a way to steal
it.' 
Ted Foster can only shake his head.
"I guess that even if it's nailed down, someone will find a way to steal
it," said the president of the Cannington Historical Society.
The steel rails, plates and spikes were stolen from the Cannington Museum's
railroad display last Monday night (June 11).
It's the latest act in a rampant string of crime at the museum in recent
years. But this really strikes home for Mr. Foster and other members of the
historical society.
"This was not an act of vandalism. This was pre-meditated theft. The
culprits knew the site and they had the tools necessary to remove the
spikes. They also had the heavy machinery to haul it away," Mr. Foster said.
Mr. Foster estimates that it would cost $10,000 to replace the rails with
new material. But the true loss is the historical value of the rails. They
were made in 1883 and are truly irreplaceable.
"This isn't something that you can pick up at Home Depot," he said.
In past years, the caboose at the museum has been targeted by vandals, with
windows and doors being smashed and the roof and siding damaged and
destroyed.
The theft of the railway line has Mr. Foster questioning whether the
historical society should even bother continuing their efforts to preserve
the heritage of the village.
"Is there really any point in continuing to replace artifacts only to have
them vandalized or stolen?" Mr. Foster asked.
"The Historical Society is a volunteer organization funded by public
donations and fundraising. We do not have the funds or volunteer labour
necessary to continually repair and replace items that are stolen or
destroyed. We may have to consider scaling back or closing the collection at
the museum."
Anyone with information regarding the theft is asked to call the Durham
Police at 1-888-579-1520 or Crime Stoppers at 1-888-222-8477 (TIPS). 


http://www.mykawartha.com/article/10764

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