There was a break-in and theft at a Grand Forks Airport Beacon site on Hardy Mountain in the Boundary District of BC. Several components of the navigation equipment were stolen which render the site inoperable.
All aviation related equipment is deemed essential life saving equipment and theft or tampering is a serious offense.
Grand Forks Airport is the only night time certified airport for emergency operations in the West Kootenays and Boundary, and until the system can be repaired, the airport cannot be used for emergency medical transport flights (Medevac) between dusk and dawn.
The building is clearly marked to indicate that the contents of the building fill a life safety role, the thief or thieves continued to break in to the facility and removed critical parts of the power system.
Several items were taken, including solar panels and mounts, two M28 fuel cartridges, two 12 AGM batteries and a solar charge controller. The items stolen are estimated to be valued over $40,000.
Investigators now believe that this crime was carried out on April 9th, 2020 between 7:30 p.m. and 8 p.m.. If you have any information please contact Grand Forks RCMP at 250-442-8288, or visit the RCMP website.