Chilmark police are investigating the theft of 21 solar panels from the Grey Barn on South Road stolen sometime over Presidents Day weekend.
According to the police report, the crate containing the panels weighed over 1,000 pounds. The 270-watt panels are valued at $14,000. Farm owners Eric and Molly Glasgow are currently outfitting their four new barns with solar panels, about 300 of which have already been installed.
Philip Forest of South Mountain Company reported the theft on Feb. 23, and advised that the panels were taken sometime between Friday afternoon and Monday morning. While the area around the missing crate appeared not to have been disturbed, Chilmark police Sgt. Jonathan Klaren reported he observed snow in the area where the pallet holding the crate had been. With snow falling overnight that Sunday, Mr. Klaren suggested the crate may have been removed prior to the snowfall.
The Glasgows were home for most of the weekend and did not notice any suspicious activity; they left the property on Sunday at 2 p.m. for two and a half hours.
Sergeant Klaren contacted Robert Fitts at Daseco Electrical, the contracting company installing the panels, who said the panels were “an odd order, commercial grade and unique to this job site.” The solar panel supply company was contacted to obtain the serial numbers of the stolen panels.
The investigation is ongoing.
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