Kinder Morgan is alleging a band of masked protesters made off with a piece of surveying equipment this morning.

On Monday, Burnaby RCMP were combing the woods with police dogs around Horne Street, after the window of a Kinder Morgan contractor vehicle was smashed and a piece of surveying equipment was taken.

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Kinder Morgan spokesperson Lizette Parsons Bel alleged it was protesters that took the item.

"They grabbed the survey equipment and ran off with it," Parsons Bel said. "We believe it's an individual who's previously interfered with our work. ... There were three masked protesters who showed (up). We understand from the other two that the equipment was being taken by the Caretakers."

The Burnaby Mountain Caretakers are a loosely knit group of pipeline opponents who have protested Kinder Morgan's pipeline activities in recent months.

The incident happened around 9 a.m. Monday morning.

Kinder Morgan has been conducting ongoing fieldwork in the Lower Mainland, including Monday's survey work, as part of the proposed pipeline expansion.

According to Parsons Bel, Kinder Morgan warns its contractors about the controversial nature of the project and what to do if confronted by protesters.

"We talk to them about not being confrontational and packing their equipment up and removing themselves, but we need to get the work done," she said. "(The protesters have) indicated they will continue to look for us and watch for us and follow us around."