A bizarre, suspected theft over the weekend means children attending daycare at the Merritt Youth and Family Resource Society will be stuck inside for the time being.

Two gates to the to the fenced off yard of the daycare disappeared sometime between Saturday evening (June 18) and Monday (June 20).

The daycare was open Saturday afternoon, but closed all day Sunday.

“It’s the strangest thing. Of all things to take,” said the society’s executive director Lenora Fletcher.

The loss means two of the daycare’s programs that would typically engage in outdoor activities in the yard cannot do that due to safety concerns.

“We can’t until we get something to cover up the holes,” Fletcher said.

She said having no gates poses too great a risk that a child may run out on to the street or into the Railyard Mall parking lot even with staff supervising a group.

“I’m not willing to take the chance,” Fletcher said.

She said police looking to see if there is any video camera surveillance footage from neighbouring businesses that might provide assistance in this investigation.

The daycare is located on Coutlee Avenue and Fletcher said not many businesses along that route have surveillance cameras.

Fletcher said she cannot afford to purchase two new gates, which would cost about $600 to do.

The daycare’s funds are limited as there is no operating funds to help replace the gates. She said they were custom made to provide wide openings for firefighters to accessing the building and for the children to get in with ease.

The two gates look new and are shiny with no paint giving them a silver look, she said.

Fletcher is asking for public assistance in retrieving the gates and asks that anyone with any information regarding their whereabouts call 250-378-4878 or the RCMP at 250-378-4262. People can also call CrimeStoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS.