A Volkswagen caught on camera in a break-and-enter in Nanaimo’s north end last weekend was stolen hours earlier, according to police in Nanaimo.
Arbutus Music on Metral Drive was broken into at 3:30 a.m. on Oct. 5 with surveillance video showing the side door of the business being smashed in with a Volkswagen Touareg, Richard Leighton, Arbutus Music owner, told the News Bulletin last week. A Menzel 3/4 size upright bass and a Stanley FatMax rolling kit with VEX Robotics components and tools were stolen.
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On Thursday, Nanaimo RCMP noted in an unsolved crimes report that there was a related car theft from Harbourview Volkswagen at 1:30 a.m. that same day. The dealership was broken into, the vehicle was stolen from one of its bays and a “large-set, balding white man, wearing a high-visibility vest and dark jacket” was caught on video camera walking up to the dealership, according to a press release. In addition to the car, wrenches, pry bars, gas cans, a grass trimmer and small tools were stolen.
Police were able to recover the vehicle, but only after it was used in the Arbutus Music crime.
Leighton said the incident wasn’t isolated and businesses in the area have been hit before.
“I wouldn’t say it’s a common occurrence, but there is a lot of small businesses out here that have been hit,” Leighton said.
Leighton said he was grateful to police for a fast response, but hope authorities work to try to curb crime.
“I hope the local government looks at what’s going on with the problems of the increase in theft in Nanaimo, and can come up with a strategy to help beat that,” said Leighton. “I don’t know if there’s an easy cure, but there definitely has to be something done.”
Anyone with information is asked to call Nanaimo RCMP at 250-754-2345 or contact Crime Stoppers by calling 1-800-222-8477 or submitting a tip online at www.nanaimocrimestoppers.com.
For past coverage of unsolved crimes in Nanaimo, click here.
reporter@nanaimobulletin.com
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