Archery club trailer ‘stuffed to the roof’ with 3-D animal targets stolen
A selection of animal-shaped shooting targets became the targets of criminals when a trailer containing 64 of the figurines was stolen from the St. Paul Archery Club, police said Friday.
St. Paul RCMP were called to the St. Paul Archery Club after a white, eight-metre Vanguard trailer was stolen by thieves using a white Ford pickup around 4 a.m. Thursday, Oct. 12.
According to police, there were 64 3-D animal targets inside the trailer.
The trailer itself is valued at around $10,000, but the targets have a combined value of $50,000.
Jerico VanBrabant, vice-president of the archery club, said he doesn’t believe the thief knew what he was getting when he stole the trailer, saying surveillance footage shows a suspect breaking through the fence into the well-lit yard before running from trailer to trailer looking for one with a hitch compatible with the truck he was driving.
“He didn’t break into it prior to stealing it, so he had no clue what was in it,” said VanBrabant.
VanBrabant said reselling the stolen targets would be a difficult task.
“The trailer was completely stuffed to the roof with these,” said VanBrabant, adding “it would be pretty hard to sell that large number. There’s a pretty limited market on who would be looking for this. We did make all of the archery community in Western Canada aware of this, so I don’t think anybody would be looking to buy the whole thing in one shot.”
VanBrabant, who is especially partial to the dinosaur-shaped targets, said he is concerned for their well-being.
“I hope whoever stole it doesn’t do something stupid like burn it just to try to get rid of them,” VanBrabant said.
The targets — including an alligator, bears, antelope, a hyena, a life-size moose, a massive cobra, dinosaurs and other animal shapes — are an essential part of the club’s annual 3-D shoot, scheduled for this spring. The event is the club’s largest fundraiser.
“We really need these to do our fundraiser, so without them we would definitely be in financial trouble,” said VanBrabant.
The trailer was last seen bearing Alberta licence plate number S44895.
Anyone with information is urged to contact St. Paul RCMP.