Mounties in Nanaimo are counting on investigative techniques and a little luck or a tip from the public to help find a suspect who stole several hundred dollars worth of lottery tickets Sunday.
A man walked into the Esso station at 1050 Terminal Ave. at about 11 p.m. and asked the clerk for a telephone book.
He then asked for a cardboard box to help carry some auto parts he had with him.
While the clerk was in the the back getting a box, the suspect reached over the counter and stole a row of lottery tickets on display, but it was hours before the theft was discovered.
"Unbeknownst to the clerk, because he didn't check the surveillance video until several hours later, the male was seen reaching across and taking a whole row of lottery tickets," said Const. Gary O'Brien, Nanaimo RCMP spokesman.
The suspect is Caucasian, 20 to 30 years old and was wearing a blue sweater and a vest.
Anyone with information about this incident 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.