The NWT Literacy Council’s bookmobile, a specialized book cart used at summertime events, has been found after being reported stolen earlier on Thursday.
Charlotte Upton, a youth coordinator at the council, said the vehicle is usually locked between two office buildings within a “secure fenced area” on 47 Street in downtown Yellowknife.
“When I came in this morning, the lock was gone. It kind-of looked like it had been cut because we also have another secure piece – a thick secondary lock that’s there – that was partially cut. The bookmobile was gone,” Upton told Cabin Radio on Thursday afternoon.
By Thursday evening, the cart was back, but with a colour change.
Gone was the previous vibrantly decorated colour scheme. Instead, someone had spray-painted it grey.
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“It’s got a new paint job and some flat tires from its outing but it’s in good shape otherwise,” the NWT Literacy Council said on Facebook.
“Thanks so much to the individual who met up with us to show us where it was and helped us with recovering it. We appreciate all the community support.”
The three-wheeled contraption is used by staff to distribute free books during the likes of Canada Day celebrations, Pride parades and the Yellowknife Farmers’ Market.
According to Upton, the bookmobile has not previously gone missing in the past decade.
“The alley back here right now is a little busier than other years. I think there’s a lot of bike theft,” she said prior to the cart being found.
“But it’s been locked up, no one has ever attempted to take it before. It’s quite large, and it’s not super manoeuvrable, honestly.”
