An Elk Valley hockey team that came to Creston with hopes of qualifying for the provincial bantam hockey championships left in anger on Sunday, after losing the Kootenay championship final and having had electronic equipment stolen from its Creston and District Community Complex (CDCC) dressing room.
One parent reported the theft to the Advance on Monday, concerned that the theft might have been intended to “throw the team off its game.”
“This certainly doesn’t put Creston in a very good light,” RCMP Staff Sgt. Bob Gollan said on Monday,
But, he said, he had no reason to believe that the thief was not simply the work of someone who saw an opportunity to get away with items that are easily sold. A male wearing a black hoodie and carrying an orange backpack was seen leaving a rear exit of the CDCC shortly after the theft occurred.
Missing from the teenaged team’s dressing room were iPhones, an iPod and an iPod dock and speakers, which were used to provide music as the team readied itself for each game.
“This is the third theft at Creston and District Community Complex in the past couple weeks,” Gollan said.
The other thefts were from the swimming pool changing room and an exercise room, where a digital projector was stolen.
Anyone with information about any of the thefts is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477) or the Creston RCMP at 250-428-9313.
