SHEBANDOWAN, Ont. — The chief of the Shebandowan Fire Department says thieves are putting public safety at risk by removing newly-erected road signs.
This week, someone used tools to remove a sign designating Whiskey Jack Road that was bolted to a post.
It was the second incident in recent months.
In the first theft, the thief used a saw to cut off the top part of the post to which a Blue Jay Road sign was attached.
The frustrated head of the volunteer fire department, Tracey Johnson, says the Shebandowan Local Services Board has just installed new signs on roads off Highway 11 to make it easier for emergency services to respond to calls.
"The ambulances aren't aware of all these roads yet and where they're located, so when people start cutting down signs and the ambulance is called but can't find the road, that's a problem," Johnson said Wednesday in an interview.
She said the issue might not be as serious if the signs had been in place for 20 years and everybody knew where they were, "but these are brand new road names and road signs."
The signage is in conjunction with the implementation of 911 in the Shebandowan area. In addition to naming roads, house numbers have been assigned to properties that required them.
In a message to the community on Facebook, Johnson expressed her deep disappointment over the thefts.
"These actions could cost someone their lives. We have been working so hard to improve emergency response...and to have someone hinder this for no good reason just breaks my heart."
In light of the fact that both signs were stolen from roads named after birds, Johnson told Tbnewswatch, one resident has suggested that a hidden camera be installed near a third sign, the one that designates Barred Owl Road.
