Glacier Thief Arrested in Chile

By Daniel Distant, Christian Post Reporter Friday, February 03, 2012

A glacier thief arrested in Chile was caught on for stealing for stealing huge hunks of ice from a nearby glacier, and trying to use the frozen goods for his own monetary gain.

Chile's only glacier thief was arrested on the suspicion that he took over five tons of ice from the Jorge Montt glacier in the Patagonia region, which is near the southern part of the country.

Cochrane, Chile officials found the chunks of ice in the back of the man's truck, which they say was most likely headed for Santiago, the capital city.

The glacier thief's reasoning? He could sell the $6,000 worth of ice to make designer ice cubes in businesses, bars, and restaurants to add a unique touch. Tourists who visit Chile are usually served their drinks with glacial ice, according to BBC.

Although the unnamed driver was booked on suspicion of theft, another crime could also be added to his charge sheet: the defacing and violation of a national monument. Because the Jorge Montt glacier is part of the Bernard O'Higgins National Park, the ice falls under the jurisdiction of the country for protection.

In addition, a NASA study conducted found that the rate of thinning of the Jorge Montt glacier is speeding up considerably. Jorge Montt, which is part of the Southern Patagonia ice fields, has receded more than twice as much from the years 1995 to 2000, versus 1975 to 2000.

A recent study, conducted in between February of 2010 and January of 2011, showed that the melting of the glacier has increased exponentially since the beginning of the new millennium. Jorge Montt now recedes at the rate of 82 feet per day, "abnormally fast," as reported by The Santiago Times.

Still, opponents of global warming point to the cyclical nature of some glaciers like Jorge Montt, which- only 250 years ago- was expanding, gobbling up entire forests.