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Chilliwack Museum staff lament two stolen plaques

One stolen overnight Tuesday has been recovered; brass National Historic Site plaque still missing
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Abbie Murphy, the Chilliwack Museum’s education and engagement assistant, shows a metal plaque stolen off the building overnight June 11 and recovered June 12. (Paul Henderson/ The Prorgress)

It’s been said that there is no honour among thieves, and there is almost nothing somebody won’t steal.

Staff at the Chilliwack Museum & Archives know this all too well as two metal plaques have been stolen in recent weeks, pried off the building and carted off.

First up, over the May 25, 26 weekend, the brass National Historic Site sign was stolen from the front of the building.

The sign recounts in French and English some of the history of the building as Chilliwack City Hall.

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Then, late June 11 or in the early hours of June 12, inconsiderate thieves stole a plaque from the back of the museum facing the Chilliwack Cenotaph. In that instance, luckily, a gentleman cleaning up the yard around he Odd Fellows Hall on Reece Avenue found the plaque under some stairs and returned it.

The one stolen in May, however, is still gone and staff fear it’s likely been sold to a metal dealer.

Museum staff posted on Facebook about the stolen plaque on May 28: “Missing: 1 brass plaque, speaks English and French, has a passion for history, and enjoys being copied with paper and crayons. If found please call: 604-795-5210.”

The two plaques are not even all that thieves have attempted to steal. There is evidence someone has tried to pry off the banister on the outside stairs and the rear plaque on the Piper Richardson statue.

(See below for more photos.)

There is even evidence someone attempted to pry the large statue itself off the stone base.

Metal theft used to be a much larger problem when metal prices where higher, but incidents did drop off in recent years.

Anyone who knows the whereabouts of the stolen plaque is asked to call the above number or, anyone with information about any stolen items should call police non-emergency at 604-792-4611.

• RELATED: Supplies stolen from the Chilliwack Community Forest

• RELATED: $73,000 in stolen Chilliwack jewelry returned


@PeeJayAitch
paul.henderson@theprogress.com

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The spot on the museum near the cenotaph where a metal plaque was stolen off the building overnight June 11 and recovered June 12. A brass plaque from the front of the building is still missing. (Paul Henderson/ The Prorgress)
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Thieves have recently stolen two plaques off the Chilliwack Museum, attempted to pry off a banister, a plaque on the Piper Richardson statue, and even the statue itself. (Paul Henderson/ The Progress)
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Faint evidence can be seen where vandals/thieves attempted to pry the Piper Richardson statue at the Chilliwack Museum off the footing. (Paul Henderson/ The Progress)
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An image of the stolen National Historic Site plaque from the front of the Chilliwack Museum. (Facebook)