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Boatlift heist leaves Lake Country summer program in jeopardy

A boat hoist valued at more than $10,000 was stolen from the Lake Country Ski and Board Clubhouse last Friday.

A boat hoist valued at more than $10,000 was stolen from the Lake Country Ski and Board Clubhouse on Wood Lake.

If the hoist is not found, the Lake Country Board and Ski Club says youth waterskiing and boarding programs for Vernon and Lake Country youth this summer could be cancelled.

“It would cost about $10,000 to replace the lift and we don’t have those kinds of funds,” said Darrell Roper, secretary for the club.

Lake Country RCMP received a report of theft from club members last Friday. The boat hoist and the group’s clubhouse are located in an isolated northwest corner of Wood Lake. “The 18-foot aluminum Nyman Water Lifter, valued at over $10,000 had apparently been stolen sometime in the preceding two days” said Const. Kris Clark.

Attempts to break into the clubhouse were thwarted by the security system, but Roper said they were waiting for a locksmith to open up the damaged locks to see if anything else is missing.

Roper said the hoist weighed more than 500 pounds and would have taken several people to dismantle and move it onto a flat deck truck.

Anyone with information is asked to call the Lake Country RCMP at 250-766-2288 or  Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.