The Regina Police Service is warning the public, and specifically the person or persons involved in a recent break and enter, about the potential health hazard associated with items stolen from a compound belonging to SaskPower.
The Regina Police Service received a report on Tuesday, August 16, 2011, of a Break, Enter and Theft from a SaskPower compound, located in the 1600 block of 1st Avenue. The report indicates that, sometime in the past month, two transformers were taken from the compound. The compound is secured by a fence and is checked on a regular basis, but it is not known exactly when the theft occurred. The transformers weigh between 600 and 850 pounds and both units have copper and aluminium coils, a possible motive for the theft. The transformers have been drained of oil containing polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), and flushed. However, anyone handling these units may be exposed to residual amounts of PCBs. Although no longer in use, PCBs may be present in old transformers, capacitors and other old, electrical devices. PCBs have been demonstrated to cause cancer, as well as a variety of other adverse health effects.
Anyone who has information about this theft is asked to contact the Regina Police Service at 777-6500 or call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477. More information about the transformers themselves maybe obtained from Mr. James Parker of SaskPower at 536-2886.