October 21, 2014
Ontario

Police investigating vandalism at wind turbine sites

Police investigating vandalism at wind sites | By Dave Flaherty, Goderich Signal-Star | Tuesday, October 21, 2014 | www.goderichsignalstar.com

Police are investigating vandalism at sites of controversial wind turbine projects in Huron County.

Huron County OPP reported last week it has received a number of complaints, the latest being in Huron East.

Police said they received information on Oct. 10 about damage caused to an excavator at a wind turbine site on Bridge Road, north of Seaforth and Dublin.

According to a police report, during the overnight hours, those responsible smashed windows to gain entry into the cab area and then destroyed various computer controls inside.

The suspects also destroyed all of the paint markings on the ground where the operator needed to dig.

OPP officials said a similar occurrence took place in the township of Ashfield-Colborne-Wawanosh on Sept. 21.

Police said two excavators were parked on Glen’s Hill Road near Dungannon when the suspects hurled rocks through the windows of both machines, causing $10,000 in damage.

Earlier on Sept. 13, OPP attended a Cransford Line wind turbine site, also near Dungannon, to investigate damage to a port-a-potty and a light stand generator.

All the lights on the generator were smashed and the port-a-potty was extensively damaged.

Overall damage was estimated at $13,000.

Police said these incidents have all occurred at night or in the early morning

hours.

Const. Jamie Stanley of Huron County OPP said it would be a fair and accurate assumption to believe that there is a possibility these crimes or at least some of them may be connected.

He said officers are continuing the investigation and following up on any leads they receive.

OPP ask anyone who see suspicious activity or vehicles in the vicinity of a wind turbine site to immediately call police.

The Huron OPP Crime Unit encourages anyone with information about these crimes to call the Huron OPP Detachment at 1-888-310-1122 or at (519) 524-8314 to speak with an investigator. Alternatively, should you wish to remain anonymous, you may call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477), where you may be eligible to receive a cash reward of up to $2,000.