Van stolen from Swanton with chemicals recovered
6/26/2014Toledo police have recovered a stolen van containing potentially fatal chemicals with its dangerous cargo intact, they reported Wednesday evening.
Police found the white van, which was stolen Tuesday from Swanton, about 6 p.m. in front of 1132 Halstead St.
“An inventory of the containers was taken, and it appeared that the most dangerous chemicals were still in the van,” a Toledo police report said.
Attached to the white van was a 14-foot homemade trailer. Inside was a Polaris all-terrain vehicle. The ATV was found in Toledo, but the van and 50 pounds of hazardous chemicals were missing for about a day, police said.
The chemicals inside the van included Clearigate, Aquathol K, Tribune Herbicide, and Hydrothol. They are typically used for treating ponds.
“They can be dangerous either if they’re ingested or by contact,” police Sgt. Joe Heffernan said.
Sergeant Heffernan suggested the person who stole the van might not have realized there were dangerous chemicals inside.
“I think they saw a van with a trailer with an ATV inside,” he said.
Police could not reach the van’s owner Tuesday evening, so they towed it to the impound lot, where it has been stored apart from other vehicles.