4,500-pound tanks lifted from pump station

Two fuel tanks at the East Bank hurricane protection levee in St. Rose were discovered stolen on Sept. 3, according to Public Works Assistant Director Bob Dublan.

The two 500-gallon tanks were part of the Walker and Almedia portable pumping stations, which were not online at the time. The parish was in the process of re-installing the pumps at this structure, which had to be raised because the Corps of Engineers is raising the levee. The two stations send water runoff over the levee and into the wetlands during periods of heavy rain.

Each tank was worth about $4,000, with the diesel fuel inside adding about $400, Dublan said.

Renee Simpson, public information officer for the parish, said that each tank weighed about 4,500 pounds and taking them would have required lifting equipment and a vehicle capable of hauling that amount of weight.

Simpson said that many pumping stations have cameras installed to deter vandalism, but that this location did not. She said that when cameras are present, vandalism stops.

Anyone with information on this theft or any suspicious activity involving parish-owned infrastructure is asked to contact the Sheriff’s Office at (985)783-6807 or the Emergency Operations Center at (985)783-5050.

Simpson said the tank at Almedia was replaced in time for that station to be re-installed on Friday, and the Walker tank will be replaced before that station is re-installed sometime soon.