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Camp for deaf kids ripped off - North Star
Using at least two vehicles with trailers, thieves stole about $60,000 worth of equipment from the Ontario Camp for the Deaf last week.
In a brazen nighttime act, the thieves stole 11 ATVs from three buildings at the camp. Three of the vehicles, 2006 Arctic Cat DVX 250s purchased last week, had only hand controls so handicapped campers could use them and weren’t yet insured, said Derek Rumball, executive director for the camp.
The Ontario Camp for the Deaf, located just southeast of Parry Sound in Seguin Township, hosts 600 to 700 deaf or disabled children each summer.
Almost every camper uses the ATVs during the summer.
“I just think it’s a real tragedy,” said Mr. Rumball.
“People’s materialistic selfishness goes beyond just affecting one person, but affects hundreds of campers. They’re part of the camp program. Every child gets a chance to ride on an ATV.”
Three of the ATVs, stored in a personal shed, belonged to Mr. Rumball and were used by his children for racing. Others were stolen from a workshop at the site, and others from a storage shed where they sat surrounded by other equipment.
“Whoever it was knew the layout and had a good insight into the operation of the camp,” Mr. Rumball said.
Shut down
The camp shut down for the season on Labour Day weekend. Mr. Rumball said he suspects the thieves came to the site the one night they knew it would be unsupervised. He noticed his personal machines were missing from one building on Friday afternoon, then discovered others were missing and called police.
Tracks indicate at least two trucks with trailers were used in the burglary. The thieves selectively stole newer vehicles, leaving several older ATVs behind.
Among those stolen were a 2005 Yamaha 450 YFX, a 2004 Yamaha Grizzley and a 2004 Yamaha Blaster. There were also three Polaris ATVs and two Hondas.
OPP Sgt. Ernie Klink said police could not discuss details of the case, which they continue to investigate, but suggested anyone who notices a nearby property suddenly loaded with the all-terrain vehicles give them a call.
Mr. Rumball said he and his staff will spend the winter figuring out how to recoup the loss, or change programming to operate without the vehicles.
“We’ve been doing this since 1992, putting kids on quads every year,” he said. “It’s something the deaf kids or wheelchair kids really get a kick out of.”
On Monday, Mr. Rumball was out locking up the rest of the equipment on the grounds and said the theft will change the look at feel of the camp.
“Now we have to go the route of putting in secure gates,” he said. “The Deaf camp has been open to everybody. Now the first thing people are going to see is the security fence.”
Using at least two vehicles with trailers, thieves stole about $60,000 worth of equipment from the Ontario Camp for the Deaf last week.
In a brazen nighttime act, the thieves stole 11 ATVs from three buildings at the camp. Three of the vehicles, 2006 Arctic Cat DVX 250s purchased last week, had only hand controls so handicapped campers could use them and weren’t yet insured, said Derek Rumball, executive director for the camp.
The Ontario Camp for the Deaf, located just southeast of Parry Sound in Seguin Township, hosts 600 to 700 deaf or disabled children each summer.
Almost every camper uses the ATVs during the summer.
“I just think it’s a real tragedy,” said Mr. Rumball.
“People’s materialistic selfishness goes beyond just affecting one person, but affects hundreds of campers. They’re part of the camp program. Every child gets a chance to ride on an ATV.”
Three of the ATVs, stored in a personal shed, belonged to Mr. Rumball and were used by his children for racing. Others were stolen from a workshop at the site, and others from a storage shed where they sat surrounded by other equipment.
“Whoever it was knew the layout and had a good insight into the operation of the camp,” Mr. Rumball said.
Shut down
The camp shut down for the season on Labour Day weekend. Mr. Rumball said he suspects the thieves came to the site the one night they knew it would be unsupervised. He noticed his personal machines were missing from one building on Friday afternoon, then discovered others were missing and called police.
Tracks indicate at least two trucks with trailers were used in the burglary. The thieves selectively stole newer vehicles, leaving several older ATVs behind.
Among those stolen were a 2005 Yamaha 450 YFX, a 2004 Yamaha Grizzley and a 2004 Yamaha Blaster. There were also three Polaris ATVs and two Hondas.
OPP Sgt. Ernie Klink said police could not discuss details of the case, which they continue to investigate, but suggested anyone who notices a nearby property suddenly loaded with the all-terrain vehicles give them a call.
Mr. Rumball said he and his staff will spend the winter figuring out how to recoup the loss, or change programming to operate without the vehicles.
“We’ve been doing this since 1992, putting kids on quads every year,” he said. “It’s something the deaf kids or wheelchair kids really get a kick out of.”
On Monday, Mr. Rumball was out locking up the rest of the equipment on the grounds and said the theft will change the look at feel of the camp.
“Now we have to go the route of putting in secure gates,” he said. “The Deaf camp has been open to everybody. Now the first thing people are going to see is the security fence.”