Stolen ATVs leave Fort McMurray evacuees feeling revictimized

Police recovered one of three ATVs stolen from the rental home of a Fort McMurray family who fled to Calgary, and outdoor enthusiasts are being asked to keep an eye out for the other two.

"It's kind of a big deal to me and my family to have our machines;that's what we do on our days off," Jason Mills told the Calgary Eyeopener on Wednesday.

"It hurts."

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Mills was working north of FortMcMurraywhen residents were ordered to evacuate last month due to the encroaching forest fire.

He, hiswife Shelly and their two children first fled to Edmonton, but when they couldn't find a suitable rental there, continued south to Calgary, landing in the northwest community of Nolan Hill, where they found a fully furnished home.

When residents were allowed back into Fort Mac, Jason went to get more clothes and other essentials and decided to bring his trailer south, carrying three of the family's ATVs including a Polaris RZR that he figures were worth about $50,000.

They spent a day riding around McLean Creek last week and had plans to head to Banff last weekend.

"I thought it was a good idea to bring my ATVsdown to the mountains because I'd never rode the mountains," said Mills.

"I'm basically [in Calgary] for another month and I can enjoy doing what I do every dayoff."

Mills even bought a heavy duty lock for the trailer, which he left parked in an alley behind the house.

"I cabled my quads together with a half-inch cable just to make sure noone could take one or the other," he said.

While waiting in line to file a claim Saturday, Mills got a call from RCMP, saying his RZR had been recovered from a farmer's field at Symons Valley Roadand Township Road264.

After paying a $380 bill to get the machine out of an impound lot, a tow truck driver told Mills where it was found, so he and his son Carter, 12, went to have a look for themselves.

When they arrived, Carter spotted the trailer,which had also been ditched in the field.

Carter's ATV bought for him in May as a gift for graduating Grade 7, and Shelly's ATV remain missing.

Mills said about $4,000 in accessories had been pilfered from the RZR and he valued he other two ATVs at about $21,000.

"[Carter] already had an ATV, a smaller one, and he kind of grew out of it," said Mills.

"I upgraded him to a bigger machine he can handle."

Because of misplaced paperwork, Mills said insurance may not cover that loss.

Despite the theft, Mills said their experience in Calgary has been a positive one.

"Stuff like this happens everywhere, this isn't the worst thing that's ever happened." he said.

Anyone with information is asked to call Airdrie RCMP at 403-945-7267.