Thieves make off with cans and bottles collected for Cherryville’s rink

CHERRYVILLE – Thieves made off with bottles and cans collected for the Cherryville ice rink after breaking into the local recycling centre.

The theft of a "significant amount" of empty bottles and cans from the Cherryville Transfer Station on Aumond Road was discovered Aug. 31.

Cherryville Rink Society treasurer Lisa Larson said deposits from the bottles and cans go to fund the volunteer-run Cherryville ice rink. 

"It's disheartening that thieves steal from a facility that is just about doing good things for the community, providing recreation and good family fun," Larson said. The club treasurer said yearly bottle drives and cans and bottles dropped off at the Cherryville facility bring in $2,500 to $4,500 a year and cover almost 50 per cent of the rink's operating costs.

Larson said it wasn't the first time the rink had been affected by theft as early this year an all-terrain vehicle and tools valued at $10,000 were stolen from the rink clubhouse. The rink was built by volunteers and opened in 2009.

Regional District of North Okanagan manager of recycling and disposal facility operations Dale Danallanko said the thieves broke through two locked gates and then broke through a steel shipping container to get at the bottles and cans.

Danallanko said thefts from all regional district recycling depots around the region were fairly common, with thieves targeting scrap metal, car batteries – which can be returned for a deposit – and bottle and cans.

Larson said the Cherryville Rink Society is looking at adding extra security measures to the shipping container.

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