By Patrick Tepoorten

In what appears to have been a coordinated event, thieves cut through the gate at Camp Sunrise, Rushseba Twsp., sometime before approximately 1 p.m. on Jan. 31, and stole parts off of six out of the eight camp activity vehicles.

Chisago County Sheriff's deputies found evidence that thieves used a three-wheel ATV and possibly cars in the theft of six catalytic converters from camp vehicles. The parts themselves appeared to have been cut using a battery powered saw, like a Sawzall, which would have made cutting through exhaust pipes short work.

Further evidence that the theft was organized is the fact that thieves had with them the means to move the vehicles from parking spaces in order to create space between them, to make accessing the undercarriage easier.

The Sheriff's Office has no suspects in the theft, but took photographs and measurements of footprints, and ATV and tire tracks at the scene.

Sheriff's deputies were able to follow those three-wheeler tracks out of the camp, but lost them as falling snow began to obscure them. The three-wheeler did have a distinct tire pattern though, with a waffle pattern on the front tire that was markedly different from the treads on the rear tires.

A canvass of area residents did not produce any evidence of a local three-wheeler either.

As well as stealing the converters, thieves attempted to kick down the door to a pole shed on the property. The door was damaged, but no access was gained to the structure.

Law enforcement has no suspects in the theft, and anyone with information is encouraged to call the Sheriff's Office at (651) 257-4100.

Why catalytic converters?

Each catalytic converter contains from two to four grams of platinum, palladium, and rhodium, which all fetch a pretty penny at the recycle yard. Depending on the make and model of the vehicle, a used catalytic converter can be sold as scrap for anywhere from $10 to $145, with an average of about $60. Converters off of larger vehicles, like the passenger vans at Camp Sunrise, fetch prices at the higher end of the scale.

Like copper, the theft of catalytic converters fits into a recently emerging modus operandi of stealing scrap metal for the purpose of selling them to scrap yards. Twin Cities media have reported a rash of such thefts in recent months, many of which have taken place in park and ride lots.

A big blow

The potential for repair costs somewhere in the neighborhood of $6,000 or upward will not be easy to absorb. Camp Sunrise is run by YouthCARE, a non-profit organization that offers urban youths, ages 7 - 18, a chance to experience camping and learn leadership skills at no cost to the families of participants. It gets all of its funds from fund-raising activities and it will be tough to generate the funds necessary to replace the converters.

"It will be very difficult for us to find the resources to fund the repairs," said YouthCARE executive director Craig Luedemann on Tuesday.

As a cost saving measure, YouthCARE suspends the insurance on the majority of the fleet, which is stored at Camp Sunrise over the winter. So, the funds to repair the vehicles will have to be taken from funds raised for programs.

Although YouthCARE has yet to figure out where those funds might come from, the vehicles will have to be repaired by spring as they are integral to operations.

"We have to find a solution somehow," said Luedemann, who noted that the passenger vans are used to transport children to camp, as well as transport them to area state parks, and to activities such as canoe trips.

For now, YouthCARE is collecting estimates from local automobile repair shops, and looking for ways to pay for those repairs before Camp Sunrise opens for its 34th season.

If anyone wishes to help defray those costs in some way, you can contact YouthCARE at (612) 338-1233.

Comment from Alvin Dungan, 2/28/07

It makes me very sad that this has happened to Youth Care. Our son, Nathan chairs the Youth Care Board and through him we know what great work is being done with youth in the Twin Cities.
There will always be people like those who stole the catalytic converters for their own personal gain. I will pray for them that their hearts will be changed and that they will become supporters of this great program.
I hope that people who have seen this article will be moved to help Youth Care in raising the money to replace the catalytic converters on their vans. I promise that my wife and I will make a contribution to make this possible.
Thanks,Craig for all that you and your dedicated staff do to make life a better place for those you serve.
Alvin and Hildred Dungan

Comment from Kiana, 3/5/07

I can't believe that someone would do this! It highly upsets me to hear that someone stole from an organization that has done nothing wrong to anyone. This is really frustrating and i'll do anything that I can to help!

Comment from teana collins, 3/6/07

I cant belive this, it makes me really sad that something like this happend to camp sunrise and my thing is why would someone do this to a youth program. if there is anything that i could do please let me know.

Comment from AG YUSUF, 3/9/07

I just can't believe that some one would do such a thing! to a camp that helped me escape the inner-city every summer, back when I was just a teenager, I'm finding out the news just now for the first time and it hit me, as if some one stealing something from one of my own, Camp Sunrise is family to me.

Comment from Steph M, 5/4/07

Camp Sunrise is such an incredible place with such positive energy... it is so disturbing that someone could do that to such a place. Those vehicles are so vital to camp operations...
It is the youth, staff, and volunteers that give Camp Sunrise it's positive energy, and I'm confident that together they can get through anything. RISE SUN CAMP!