Deer Islanders 'all happy' after alleged vigilantism rids island of accused thieves, says senior

For 35 years, Deer Island resident Diane Bustin never locked her doors.

"This place used to be the safest place on the planet to live," she said of the 45-square-kilometre island in the Bay of Fundy.

But for "well over a year" now, the 65-year-old widow says she never goes to bed without locking them.

And she says she's not alone.

The island's roughly 700 residents have been plagued by thefts, said Bustin — everything from gasoline and batteries to fishing equipment.

"Like, I mean it's just been really bad."

Fishermen have been particularly hard-hit after a disappointing lobster season, she said.

"The fishermen, work really, really hard for what they have. … And you know, to have your boats and your equipment stolen is not a fun thing to have happen when you're going through a rough time.

"And everybody's going through a rough time."

Bustin and others CBC News has spoken to blame people they allege use drugs and visit the island at night just as the ferry service shuts down until morning, when it's even more difficult for RCMP from the St. George detachment to respond.

On Wednesday, RCMP issued a statement warning the public against acts of vigilantism as they investigate a series of incidents on Deer Island that saw a car heavily damaged by a group of people at the ferry terminal and a building burned to the ground.

Police "do not condone the public taking policing matters into their own hands," said spokesperson Cpl. Stéphane Esculier. It can put them and others at risk, and they could face charges.

Several officers from the St. George detachment were on the island Thursday, along with members of the forensic identification unit and community crime reduction unit.

Helen Richardson alerted fellow islanders Tuesday at 11 p.m., when a car believed to belong to the alleged lawbreakers was spotted on the last ferry to Deer Island.