The Community
Press Telling Your Story
Wednesday, October 13, 2021
Volume 114, Issue 15
$1 Including GST
Care-A-Van victimized by gas thieves Leslie Cholowsky Editor Volunteer Care-A-Van driver Kim Freadrich and his wife Sue dropped by the FFCS office the evening of Monday, Oct. 11, to pick up the Care-AVan, because he had an early morning appointment to take a client to a medical appointment. When they approached the vehicle, a strong smell of gasoline alerted them to something amiss. Freadrich got in the van and reversed out of the parking spot to reveal a large gas leak. A quick peek under the vehicle told the story, as the Freadrichs discovered a hole had been drilled in the gas tank, about an inch from the bottom of the tank. The couple also noted drag marks in the gravel, where it was apparent that a large pan or bin had been slid under the vehicle, likely to catch the gas. “We estimate they got around 90 litres.” There was just enough gas left to drive the vehicle to the dealership. The Care-A-Van program is a free service that provides any Flagstaff individual with a driver and vehicle available to take them to out-of-town medical appointments, or other important trips. Now one of FIRST’s two vans is out for the count for a while. The program utilizes volunteer drivers, and provides the service, usually on a fuel cost basis, but since COVID, had received funds to provide the service for free to users. FIRST Executive Director Lynne Jenkinson says, “These are vulnerable, ill
Random thieves targeted the Care-A-Van while parked over the weekend at the Killam FFCS office, drilling a hole in the gas tank and stealing around 90 litres of fuel, leaving the busy program down one van, and looking at a big repair bill to get the unit back in service. Below: When the culprit got as much gas as possible, the rest was left to drain on the ground where a strong gasoline smell gave an indication something was off.
people being victimized. “We will never find the guilty party, however I hope they do realize what they did - victimizing people more vulnerable than themselves.” That 90 litres of gas stolen now comes with a price tag of $600, even with a used tank, for repairs to the unit, not to mention the human cost of losing the service until a replacement vehicle can be found or repairs are completed, money that comes out of the program. A new tank would have come with a $1,600 USD price tag. Jenkinson posted a general warning on social media for others to check their gas tanks, prompting comments from resi-
dents who were outraged that thieves would target a program like the CareA-Van. Her posting did more than generate outrage, however, as Daysland businessman Todd Carrier stepped forward after seeing her story and donated $500 to help cover the cost of the replacement tank. Jenkinson says another couple, Richard and Verna Erickson from Sedgewick, called to say they’d try and find a replacement tank for the van. When Jenkinson said the tank had already been ordered, the couple promised to go through on their promise, and have one available for next time, if there is a next time.