The Quesnel Model Railway Club at the Maple Park Shopping Centre was among the businesses broken into overnight Jan. 15/16.
RCMP members were at the site processing the crime scene in the afternoon of Jan. 16, a railway club member said, under the promise of not being identified.
He said the police were trying to figure out if there was a connection to the other two break-and-enter (B&E) incidents in the area around 4 a.m. that morning (see page A1).
They were dusting for prints and collecting other evidence, the railway club member added.
“Forensics found DNA and one good fingerprint.”
However, an RCMP media relations person said there is “no connection as far as we know at this time, but it’s still early in the investigation.”
Meanwhile, the club member said the culprit(s) entered the club’s area through the back door.
“They tried to break into another back door first, but behind that door is a brick wall.
“Then they broke into the back door of the train club, entered the [room] and rummaged through a few cases.”
A small section of track was destroyed, he said, adding drawers were pulled open and rummaged through.
“It looks like they were looking for cash….”
The club member said the culprit(s) then broke open the club’s inside door and entered the main mall.
“No other stores were broken into. They must have left through the fire exit.”
He added members of the club were at the site that afternoon, so they will be open for public viewing on their regular day – every Saturday from noon to 3 p.m.
Noting they are a volunteered-based, non-profit train club, he said the members have spent the last 10 years building the model railway.
“This is a big kick in the teeth for the members. But we have pulled together to fix the doors and return to our hobby.”