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Southwest Virginia Wildlife Center says someone cut security cameras, broke into facility

An animal is missing after its cage was disturbed, the center says

A local wildlife rescue center says someone broke into their facility, cut their security cameras and defaced their property on Friday night. (SWVA Wildlife Center of Roanoke)

ROANOKE COUNTY, Va. – A local wildlife rescue center says someone broke into their facility, cut their security cameras and defaced their property on Friday night.

The Southwest Virginia Wildlife Center of Roanoke shared an update on their Facebook page on Monday night.

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According to the center, someone broke onto their property and cut their security cameras. They said the person knew where the cameras were pointed, as well as how to blind them with a light to avoid being identified before they were able to cut them.

The center also said an animal that was recovering in a cage is now missing after the cage was disturbed.

Authorities are investigating the break-in, according to the center. They’re asking anyone with information to call the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries at 1-800-237-5712.

Sad and Disturbing News

We have sad and disturbing news to report: on July 3rd, somebody broke onto our property in the middle of the night, cut our security cameras, and proceeded to deface our mammal cages—including disturbing one cage that contained a recovering patient that is now missing. Whoever did this knew exactly where the security cameras were pointed (and what kind they were to blind them and avoid being caught) given what security footage we had before the cameras were cut. Authorities are investigating—as this action violates multiple laws and most likely was premeditated due to the behavior of the individual on our security cameras prior to them being cut. This is difficult for us because we aren’t here to harm anyone—we only want to do what is best for wildlife and provide an important service for our community, so the fact that someone would do such a thing to us is disheartening, especially when we feel we’ve been kicked down so much already. If anyone lives in the area and knows/saw something and/or has any information that may help, please call 1-800-237-5712, or email WildCrime@dgif.virginia.gov Thank you. swvawildlifecenter.org #swvawildlifecenter #roanokeva #cavespring

Posted by Southwest Virginia Wildlife Center of Roanoke on Monday, July 6, 2020