MILFORD, N.H. - The Department of Fish and Game is seeking the public's help in finding a man who it said could be behind the theft of more than 100 fish from their Milford hatchery in April.
Surveillance photo captured the man Fish and Game officers said broke into the Milford fish hatchery at least twice in April and stole dozens of fish worth about $12 each.
"He came in with the exact purpose to take as many fish as he could," New Hampshire Game and Fish Department representative Todd Szewczyk said.
Workers at the hatchery first noticed something was wrong when they spotted a hole cut through the facility's fence.
"We did also find a trail of fish from where they took them to the access point. They cut in the fence," Szewczyk said.
More fish were taken just a few days later, but Fish and Game officers said they got a look at the thief.
"(He) came back later the next week and was caught by surveillance equipment with a bucket and net," Szewczyk said.
Once inside the hatchery, Fish and Game officers said the thief made his way to one of the enclosures, lifted up the fencing and helped himself to more than 100 fish.
"These were fish that were going to be stocked in the local rivers and ponds, so it's directly affecting the local fisherman," Szewczyk said. "If I were a fisherman, I would be outraged. That's someone taking away potential fish for us to catch."
Officers said it's the first time they've had an incident like it at the hatchery, which houses thousands of fish.
"We've had other incidents where we have caught people actually fishing in the hatchery, but not going out and taking mass quantities like this and making an effort to break through the fence," Szewczyk said.
VIDEO at the following Link: http://www.wmur.com/news/nh-news/Police-seek-help-in-solving-fish-caper/-/9857858/13487776/-/item/0/-/52ib6wz/-/index.html
Anyone with information on the man's identity is asked to call the state's Operation Game Thief hotline at:
800-344-4262.
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