Concerns over safety after oil site break in

Times Reporter

 

Earlier this month Crime stoppers did a reenactment of a crime committed near Carseland in late October. There was a break and enter at the Terrex Energy oil lease site near Carseland, and police suspect the perpetrators committed another crime only a few miles away. 

At the Terrex site the suspects broke into a gated compound, and drove a vehicle to one of the buildings on the property, where they gained access into a trailer through a sliding window. 

An enclosed cargo utility trailer, a quad runner and a number of other items and tools were stolen from the site. 

“It’s fairly common unfortunately,” said Const. Clinton Chisan with the Strathmore RCMP. 

“Obviously I don’t know where these suspects are from but, in my experience, a lot of them are coming in from the cities out into the nearby rural areas.”

Though Terrex Energy Field Foreman Blair Mackie wants to see everything returned and is obviously upset about the theft, that is not the thought foremost on his mind. 

“What we were trying to get at is the danger for people who go in there not realizing the situation they are putting themselves in without the proper training,” said Mackie.

It’s not just potentially dangerous for the suspects, but while they are bumbling around in the dark at the sites there is a chance they could flip a switch or pull something out that could be detrimental and cause a sour gas leak or worse. 

The suspects did not go into the production area at all but there’s always that possibility when people go in there and look around, said Mackie. 

“Because of this we are absolutely considering other options (for security) and I think we’re moving towards that too, obviously I don’t want to say too much about what we’re doing… that will be the end result of it, there will be more security at site,” said Mackie.

Thefts from oil sites have become an increasingly common thing, and Chisan said at the end of last year the RCMP began an oil and gas industry theft initiative. Members from Strathmore, Airdrie, Gleichen, Beiseker and some of the Calgary specialized units gathered together to talk with some of the oil industry members about how to deal with these types of activities.

“Basically it amounted to better communication between all the parties. Just because we have this break and enter in Strathmore doesn’t mean that the members in Gleichen or in Airdrie are aware of it, and then they get hit the next day and it’s likely by the same people,” said Chisan.

“So we’re just trying to get more of an information flow going, also part of this was to raise awareness of this in the oil industry itself.  Lots of times until it comes to somebody’s attention they don’t realize that maybe they are a potential target or they may take more stringent efforts in ensuring their own security at these sites.

Chisan said it is in everyone’s best interest to call the RCMP to report suspicious vehicles or activity seen late at night in rural areas. He said sometimes it’s the only lead they get and it can help lead to the arrest and prosecution of the suspect. 

 “The same people who are doing these thefts and break and enters to the oil sites, a lot of times it’s the same suspects that are out there breaking into rural residences and stealing vehicles from rural areas like farmyards.”