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Thieves have stolen almost 4 kilometres of wiring from Nanaimo’s street lights this year

RCMP say thieves hitting Bowen Park area
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Police in Nanaimo are investigating a number of thefts of wire from street light standards near Bowen Park. (Photo submitted)

Wire theft is on the rise again in Nanaimo with the RCMP investigating several recent thefts of wire from lamp standards.

Thieves have focused their attention in the area next to Wall Street and along Bowen Road to Pine Street, according to an RCMP press release.

READ ALSO: Wire theft leaves downtown Nanaimo bridge in the dark

The most recent theft occurred sometime overnight Tuesday, Oct. 4, when 75 metres of wire was ripped out of lamp standard junction boxes along Bowen Road, which knocked out street lights for up to six hours and cost upwards of $4,000 to repair infrastructure and replace the wiring. So far this year, thieves have stolen almost four kilometres of wiring, which cost the city upwards of 30,000 to replace, noted the release.

“Investigators know from past experience that only certain individuals are involved in these kinds of thefts. The pool of suspects is relatively small but we do need the public’s help in identifying those responsible,” said reserve Const. Gary O’Brien, Nanaimo RCMP spokesman, in the release.

Anyone with information about the incidents is asked to call the Nanaimo RCMP non-emergency line at 250-754-2345, and quote file No. 2022-35084.



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