In 2½ years since Contech shuttered its Dowagiac operation north of town near Five-Mile Corner, vandalism and theft haven’t been a problem, but that changed  sometime March 12-13.
Dave Sexton, facilities manager, who has been with the company for 43 years, said Tuesday the loss of a break-in is estimated at $26,000.
Revstone, which acquired the two plants here in 2009 and still operates in other locations, is offering a $1,000 reward leading to the arrest and conviction of whoever stole from the plant between 3 p.m. March 12 and 1 p.m. March 13.
Witnesses saw two vehicles on the grass at the south end of Plant 3, but it didn’t register as suspicious, Sexton said.
He figures the operation took 45 minutes to carry out.
“There had to be three or four people” involved, Sexton said.
Taken were a couple of industrial welders and acetylene and oxygen tanks which stand five feet tall.
“They’re big tanks,” he said, including one cylinder weighing 4,500 pounds.
Sexton said the thieves also removed a 300-pound skid of magnesium T-top roof headers, prompting the sheriff’s office to notify area scrap yards.
“This is the first time” the plant has experienced a break-in, he said. “We’ve probably been lucky.”
Anyone with information should alert the sheriff’s office, or call (574) 612-5009 or (269) 598-3017.