Solar panels stolen from remote gas wells
The crime spree has left RCMP in the Strathmore area, east of Calgary, puzzled, and oil and gas companies have been beefing up their security as a result.
EnCana Corporation has lost 22 solar panels worth about $33,000, and other companies have reported similar thefts.
"You can use solar panels for RVs," said Cpl. Mike Numan on Tuesday. "So, there is, I suppose, a limited market for selling these things. But again, we're not too sure why somebody would do that, whether it's one person or a group of people,"
Despite an instant alarm triggered when the panels are removed, the remote locations of the gas well sites make it tough to catch the culprits in the act.
"It takes a little bit of time to get there, and that certainly gives them, the thieves, an opportunity to grab the stuff and go," said Numan.
The thieves seem to have chose this particular area because of its proximity to Calgary, police said.
"We've been working with Calgary police as well, trying to see if there is any large influx of solar panels at pawn shops or those types of things. We're not seeing that," Numan said.
An EnCana spokesman said the company is now increasing security measures, making it tougher for thieves to sell the stolen panels.
"We're putting identification on the panels. We're also changing some of the bolts, so it takes a different wrench to take them off," said Kim Currie.
Most of the solar panels on the EnCana sites have been replaced. The last theft was reported on Aug. 4.