Police are turning to the public to help solve a string of cigarette thefts.
The incidents were first reported in February, 2011 and the the most recent happened May.
In each instance, a customer bought a large quantity of cigarettes from Costco in Nanaimo.
Within hours or a day later, their vehicle would be broken into and the cigarettes stolen.
Const. Gary O'Brien, Nanaimo RCMP spokesman, said investigators believe the customers vehicles were followed from Costco and then broken into while parked at other retail outlets or in the driveways of private residences.
Some of the thefts occurred in other cities on the Island.
The thefts have, so far, totaled about $40,000 and there has only been one instance when other items were taken from a vehicle.
Costco management has been working closely with investigators who have tried several techniques to catch the culprits, but no arrests have been made to date.
Anyone with information about these thefts is asked to call Nanaimo RCMP at 250-754-2345 or contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or online at www.nanaimocrimestoppers.com.