North Vancouver police seeking safe return of missing museum artifacts
Credit to Author: Stephanie Ip| Date: Mon, 26 Aug 2019 17:58:27 +0000
A thief in North Vancouver was likely surprised when they opened a stolen duffle bag to find a World War II-era helmet and not much else.
According to North Vancouver RCMP, an employee at the North Vancouver Museum and Archives was transporting a number of museum artifacts in a black duffle bag on Saturday when the bag went missing.
The employee set the duffle bag down in the Lower Lonsdale area for a moment and when the employee turned back for the bag, it had been snatched.
Inside the bag was a World War II-era helmet, a pair of iron-working tongs, and a metal rivetting bucket. The bag also contained a bright purple guest book containing important records.
Inside the bag was a World War II-era helmet, a pair of iron-working tongs, and a metal bucket, pictured in this handout photo.
Sgt. Doug Trousdell said the items hold no cash value but are historically important for the museum.
“This was most likely a crime of opportunity,” said Trousdell. “It’s unlikely that the thief knew what they were stealing. They were probably hoping to find a wallet or cell phone, and wouldn’t have recognized the artifacts as being museum property.
“We’re hoping that they might have discarded the bag, and that a member of the public might come across it and return it.”
Anyone with information about the theft or who may have located the missing items is asked to contact North Vancouver RCMP at 604-985-1311 and cite file number 19-23450.