Missing plaques found by scrap dealer
Memorial markers from Griesbach mostly irreparable
Police located military plaques stolen from Edmonton’s Griesbach neighbourhood Wednesday, but say the majority of the historic markers are damaged beyond repair.
“It’s a tragic loss of heritage for our community,” said Griesbach Community League board member Bryan Evans. “We hope the thieves will be caught.”
A local scrap-metal dealer contacted police Wednesday morning after hearing about the thefts from media coverage, police said in a news release.
Police believe that 17 of the plaques, which honour Canada’s veterans and military history, were stolen from their concrete bases sometime between July 23 and July 25.
“We have recovered the majority of the stolen plaques, which are unfortunately unsalvageable due to extensive damage,” Det. Eric Wilde said in a release.
Police had not made any arrests in the case Wednesday.
According to the community league, all of the lettering and any identifying features had been scraped off the plaques before being sold as scrap metal.
Although the plaques appear to be bronze, they are made of a metal alloy and would have been almost worthless to a metal dealer.
Griesbach Community League president Brad Tilley said each plaque would cost between $2,000 and $2,500 to replace — money the community league just doesn’t have.
He said it’s too early to say who will pay for replacing the plaques.
“At this point, we still have to identify who’s responsible,” he said.
“But we’re definitely going to have to replace them — whether the city’s involved, the feds, or if the community is stuck with the bill, I’m not sure.”
The neighbourhood was once a military garrison, and was developed into a residential community by the Canada Lands Corp.
The plaques provide information about the names of streets and landmarks in the neighbourhood, which are named after famous regiments, peacekeepers, battles, veterans, military nurses and Victoria Cross winners.
Police are not saying how many of the plaques have been returned because the investigation is ongoing.