Update, Tuesday June 15:
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The Trail RCMP learned through social media that two bronze heritage plaques commemorating Ross Thompson, Rossland’s founder, were stolen from near the Olaus statute on the corner of Columbia Avenue and Washington Street, in Rossland.
The plaques are very unique and are of much more value intact to the community than if sold for the value of scrap metal.
Notably, all B.C. scrap metal dealers are required to report all metals sold for scrap value.
As per the public plea of the Rossland Heritage Commission, the plaques can be returned to the location where they were taken, any Rossland public facility, or the Trail RCMP Detachment with no questions asked.
In the meantime, Trail RCMP will be conducting an investigation in an attempt to recover the plaques unharmed and has reached out to the City of Rossland for further details.
The Trail RCMP is asking for anyone with information on the whereabouts of the plaques to contact them at 250-364-2566 or, if you wish to remain anonymous, call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.
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Give back our heritage plaques.
No questions asked.
That’s the message Michelle Fairbanks, from the Rossland Heritage Commission, is sending out to Rossland and surrounding communities after an unknown thief – or thieves – stole two heritage plaques from the city’s square near the Olaus Jeldness statue.
“The heritage commission had a theft of a couple heritage plaques of Ross Thompson, Rossland’s founder, sometime in the past couple of days,” Fairbanks told the Trail Times.
“It was in a very public area of Washington Street and Columbia Avenue, in Rossland, by the Olaus statue. We would like … for the property to be returned, no questions asked,” she said.
“This is very costly to replace and it seems that Rossland is getting more and more theft and vandalism happening, which is really unfortunate.”
More to come …
Read more: Rossland Heritage Commission
Read more: Olaus Jeldness statue
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