Post by IAMCAPER on Jan 3, 2007 9:13:52 GMT -4
It could take a week or longer for Parks Canada staff to determine whether any antiques were stolen from the Fortress of Louisbourg National Historic site over the weekend.
Five buildings were broken into late Saturday but little damage was done, said Parks Canada acting superintendent Tom Meagher, Tuesday.
“The most damage was a couple boards broken on a hatch to a cellar of one of the buildings,” Meagher said, adding someone attempted to break into three other heritage buildings.
He said a display case was smashed and some items, including winter coverings on furnishings, were scattered about.
An inventory of antiques, artifacts and reproductions will take three Parks Canada staff and assistants many hours to complete.
Meagher, who serves as Parks Canada assets manager, said two items in particular are missing and staff are currently taking an inventory to find them.
The buildings entered were the King’s Bastion guard house, De la Plagne house, De Gannes house and De la Valliere Magasin, which are all close to each other. Another building, Destouches house, is located on the waterfront. Valuable items inside those buildings were untouched, he said.
“I do know that there are things of value that these individuals were alongside of that are still there. Things of value that could easily be carried.”
Reproduction and antique pieces considered the most valuable items at the national heritage site are protected by an intrusion alarm and motion sensing system, but those buildings weren’t entered.
Parks Canada first noticed the break-in at 6:30 a.m. Sunday and reported it to the Cape Breton Regional Police Service.
The forensic identification section dusted for prints that morning, Sgt. Mike Kennedy said Monday. Tuesday, Kennedy said some tools used in the break-in were submitted to police by security to also be examined. He wouldn’t specify what those items were.
The investigation continues but police don’t currently have any suspects.
The crime at the national historic site comes despite 24-hour on-site security.
A minimum of two staff members known as firemen-watchmen are always on-site in case of fire.While one is constantly keeping a watch on the grounds, the other patrols the more than 60 building.
Meagher believes the breaks happened between patrols.
It’s also not known how the person or people responsible gained access to the fortress, which has been closed for the season since Oct. 31.
Built by the French in 1719, it was first taken over by the English in 1745. By 1760, it had been besieged by the English twice and fortifications were destroyed.
Five buildings were broken into late Saturday but little damage was done, said Parks Canada acting superintendent Tom Meagher, Tuesday.
“The most damage was a couple boards broken on a hatch to a cellar of one of the buildings,” Meagher said, adding someone attempted to break into three other heritage buildings.
He said a display case was smashed and some items, including winter coverings on furnishings, were scattered about.
An inventory of antiques, artifacts and reproductions will take three Parks Canada staff and assistants many hours to complete.
Meagher, who serves as Parks Canada assets manager, said two items in particular are missing and staff are currently taking an inventory to find them.
The buildings entered were the King’s Bastion guard house, De la Plagne house, De Gannes house and De la Valliere Magasin, which are all close to each other. Another building, Destouches house, is located on the waterfront. Valuable items inside those buildings were untouched, he said.
“I do know that there are things of value that these individuals were alongside of that are still there. Things of value that could easily be carried.”
Reproduction and antique pieces considered the most valuable items at the national heritage site are protected by an intrusion alarm and motion sensing system, but those buildings weren’t entered.
Parks Canada first noticed the break-in at 6:30 a.m. Sunday and reported it to the Cape Breton Regional Police Service.
The forensic identification section dusted for prints that morning, Sgt. Mike Kennedy said Monday. Tuesday, Kennedy said some tools used in the break-in were submitted to police by security to also be examined. He wouldn’t specify what those items were.
The investigation continues but police don’t currently have any suspects.
The crime at the national historic site comes despite 24-hour on-site security.
A minimum of two staff members known as firemen-watchmen are always on-site in case of fire.While one is constantly keeping a watch on the grounds, the other patrols the more than 60 building.
Meagher believes the breaks happened between patrols.
It’s also not known how the person or people responsible gained access to the fortress, which has been closed for the season since Oct. 31.
Built by the French in 1719, it was first taken over by the English in 1745. By 1760, it had been besieged by the English twice and fortifications were destroyed.