Allison MacLennan

Police say the theft of an electronic paint scale from the autobody repair shop at the Holland College Royalty Centre may have been an inside job. The scale, a Sartorius PMA7200X, is a highly specialized piece of equipment valued at $2,500. It was taken from the shop sometime between Nov. 16-30. Deputy Chief Richard Collins of the Charlottetown Police says Island police departments are trying to determine who committed the theft. "We suspect it's internal," he says. "Anybody who has access to the classroom could be a suspect." Autobody repair instructor Garry Sand agrees. "Obviously someone in the college knew it was here," he says. Sand also agrees with the theory the police have that the high-tech scale may have been stolen for use in the illegal drug trade. It measures paint in grams, which is also how narcotics are measured. "It wouldn't make sense if someone from another autobody stole it," he says. "It would be noticeable because there are only four of them on the Island." Sand, in his second year as instructor of the program, is hopeful the stolen equipment will be found or turned in. "If a college student took it, chances are someone knows about it," he says. What Sand finds frustrating about the theft is that the scale was purchased less than a year ago. He is now forced to lock the doors every time he leaves the shop and no one is allowed in unless he is there to supervise, for fear of future thefts. The students in the course feel the theft has taken away from their education. The scale was their only chance to work with new technologies and they are back to using the slower, less accurate model. They are also angry about the loss of freedom. "Whoever did this put our privileges at risk," says one student who doesn't like having to wait for his instructor to be present before he can work. Since nobody is sure who stole the scale, some students feel the situation is the source of problems at the centre. "It's causing a lot of mistrust between the students and teachers," says another student. Police do have evidence from the scene of the crime. In an attempt to make a clean getaway, the perpetrator left behind a perfect imprint of four fingerprints which may be used for identification. The Guardian recently ran a Crime Stoppers story asking for the public's help. Anybody who has information that could lead to finding the stolen equipment can contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477. -