DNR’s “Wall of Shame” deer display stolen

[Lee Borgersen]

  DNR’s “Wall of Shame” deer display stolen
  Posted on January 11, 2011 by Sam Cook
Here’s an Associated Press story that moved Tuesday afternoon:

A Turn In Poachers “wall of shame” of 19 animal mounts was stolen from the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources in St. Paul over the weekend, police and the DNR said today.

Several thousands of dollars of chainsaws and power tools, along with other items, are missing from a storage area of the DNR’s Central Regional offices, 1200 Warner Road.

Vandals smashed windows in numerous vehicles, and cut padlocks on trailers and garage doors, the DNR said. In addition to the tools stolen, snowmobile trailer ramps and all deer mounts from a Turn In Poachers trailer were taken.

DNR conservation officers are working with St. Paul police on the investigation.  The theft and damage occurred between 5:30 p.m. Friday and 7 a.m. Monday, police said. No suspect information was available.

Turn In Poachers is a nonprofit organization of conservationists concerned about poaching problems. The organization, which was started to encourage the public to report natural resources violations, provides all reward money for the program.

TIP has three “wall of shame” displays that travel around the state, according to the website.

They are actual animals involved in poaching cases and recovered from poachers. TIP displays them in order to show that these are trophies that otherwise could have been taken legally.

[mncowboy]

DNR trophy mounts recovered; men arrested 
Last update: January 14, 2011 - 12:13 AM
 
St. Paul Police on Thursday recovered some of the items stolen earlier this month from a Minnesota Department of Natural Resources facility, including trophy whitetail mounts.

Two men were arrested and booked on charges related to the incident and a third man who is believed to be involved was already in custody on unrelated charges, police said.

Thieves broke into the DNR facility on the 700 block of East Conway  between Jan. 7 and Jan. 10. Thousands of dollars worth of tools and other equipment were stolen as well as 18 trophy whitetail mounts that were on the DNR's "Wall of Shame" exhibit. The mounts had been taken by poachers and were used in a display to encourage people to play by the rules.