Vandal causes $10,000 worth of damage to Bellingham sewer pump
Bellingham Police are looking for a person they say caused $10,000 worth of damage at a city sewer pump over the weekend.
Security footage from the sewer pump in the 3400 block of James Street in Bellingham shows a person approaching the pump station at about 5:30 a.m. Saturday, Bellingham Police Lt. Claudia Murphy wrote in an email to The Bellingham Herald.
The video then shows a large flash from inside a fenced area of the station before showing a person leaving and heading east, according to Murphy.
Employees at Post Point Wastewater Treatment Plant were alerted to a malfunction at the James Street sewer pump around 6 a.m. Saturday, Murphy told The Herald.
A damage assessment done by employees showed the gate lock and the lock to the control panel were both cut, according to Murphy.
It also appears that the suspect tried to cut out an electric transfer switch along with other wires, Murphy told The Herald.
The pump station itself was not damaged and there was no disruption to service, Murphy wrote.
The Bellingham Herald has reached out to the city of Bellingham for more information about the damages.
This story was originally published November 14, 2022 at 12:32 PM.
