Red Deer RCMP are looking for public assistance in their investigation of a specialized theft involving large amounts of heavy steel tubing last weekend.

The break-in to Alberta Industrial Metals, located at 4821 78th St., was discovered and reported on May 8th and occurred sometime over the weekend.

Thieves broke into the locked compound and stole three bundles of square steel tubing weighing around 15,000 lbs. and valued at over $9,000.

One bundle contained 5” x 3” tubing that is 3/16 of an inch thick, 48 ft. long, and weighs approximately 5,440 lbs. The other two bundles contained 2” x 2” tubing that is 1/8 of an inch thick and 24 ft. long, with a combined weight of approximately 9,400 lbs..

RCMP estimate that the thieves would have needed a large truck with a three-ton deck or a large truck with a trailer to transport these heavy materials, and are looking for public assistance to identify any suspicious activity regarding vehicles of that type in the area over the May 6th weekend, or suspicious sales offers or purchases of the steel tubing described here.

“This type of theft is so specialized, and requires heavy duty equipment to move, so it’s likely the thieves had a specific client or market in mind for the tubing,” said Cpl. Karyn Kay of the Red Deer RCMP.

“RCMP want to remind the public that the purchase of any item, large or small, that they believe is stolen property is a crime. If you buy stolen property, you’re harming your community as a whole – you’re rewarding criminal activity and contributing to a spiral of increased property theft and other crimes that are linked to it, including stolen vehicles, drugs, weapons and violent crimes.”

Anyone with information about this investigation is asked to contact the Red Deer RCMP at 403-343-5575. Those wishing to remain anonymous can call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or report it online at www.tipsubmit.com.

– Fawcett