Portage Police are investigating the burglary on Friday of ISA Sales & Service and the theft of 12 tons of nickel bricks and a snowplow.

According to police, at 9:33 p.m.—as shown by the time stamp on the business’ surveillance camera—a box truck pulled up to the property at 7465 Industrial Ave. and backed into the docking bay. Cameras inside the business then show two subjects, apparently both males, start up a forklift and drive it out of the shop and into the yard. Finally, at 10:42 p.m., the camera shows the box truck leaving the scene eastbound on Industrial Ave.

Police said that only one of the five metal shipping containers on the property had been opened—after the lock latch had been pried off—and from that container 12 containers of 55-pound bags of nickel bricks removed. Each of the containers weighed 2,000 pounds and with a current market price of $8 to $10 per pound, the stolen silver has a value of around $225,000.

Also stolen: a $3,000 Boss snowplow.

Aside from the damage done to the shipping container, no signs of forced entry were found anywhere in the shop, police said.

ISA provides insulation and related products to industrial customers across the country, according to its website.

Posted 1/21/2013