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Catalytic converter stolen off food bank delivery vehicle

Surrey and Langley were relying on vehicle for dairy, produce deliveries
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South Surrey/White Rock Food Bank manager Jaye Murray says she’s disappointed after someone stole the catalytic converter off its refrigeration truck. (Aaron Hinks photo)

Filling the shelves with fresh produce and dairy at South Surrey and Langley food banks has become even more of a challenge after someone broke onto Sources BC property and cut the catalytic converter off its refrigeration truck.

“This is just disappointing, especially at this time of the year, because we do need it,” White Rock/South Surrey Food Bank manager Jaye Murray told Peace Arch News Wednesday.

Staff at South Surrey location, 2343 156 St., noticed last week that the catalytic converter was removed from the vehicle.

The Ford F450 was parked in the back of the food bank’s fenced property. Someone had cut a hole in the fence, then removed the converter from the vehicle.

Surrey and Langley share the vehicle to pick up dairy and produce.

“Sometimes we get a call from a business that has skids of dairy, but they won’t let you pick it up unless you have a refrigeration truck,” Murray said, noting Sources will now likely have to rent a replacement vehicle.

“Maybe it’s a liability issue, but a lot of places will not release a skid unless it’s a refrigerated truck.”

The theft happened just before the organization put the newly acquired truck into service. It took about a month, Murray said, for the organization to get the proper licence.

“We finally got the plates on it and we were all ready to go,” Murray said, adding they noticed the theft when they were about to put a Sources advertisement wrap on the new vehicle on Nov. 27.

Murray said Sources will also have to pay to repair the damaged fence.

“I couldn’t believe it,” Murray said. “Come on… we’re a food bank. Come on, guys.”

Surrey RCMP confirmed to PAN that they responded to a call for break-and-enter, and asked anyone with information to contact the detachment at 604-599-0502 or call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.

A few years ago, someone stole $1,000 in gift cards and a van from the Sources Langley Food Bank.

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South Surrey/White Rock Food Bank manager Jaye Murray says she’s disappointed after someone stole the catalytic converter off its refrigeration truck. (Aaron Hinks photo)


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