A white pickup, stolen from Lantzville one to two days prior, was used in an overnight break in to a business in the 1400 block of the Alberni Hwy. (Oceanside RCMP)

By NanaimoNewsNOW Staff

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Stolen pickup trucks used in pair of thefts from Errington businesses

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PARKSVILLE — A pair of business break-ins along the Alberni Hwy. are believed, but not confirmed, to be connected.

Oceanside RCMP officers have attended two reported break-ins to businesses in the 1400 block of the Alberni Hwy. in recent weeks, with a store having a large amount of liquor stolen on May 30, then another business losing cash on June 8.

Sgt. Shane Worth told NanaimoNewsNOW both incidents took place in the early morning hours, around 3:30 to 4 a.m. in an area without a lot of homes.

“I suspect it’s probably because it’s a low traffic area and businesses up in that area are closed at night time, so they can work under the cover of night and detection for committing their offences is quite low for people passing.”

In both cases, vehicles were recovered on Price Rd., which runs just south of the area where the thefts occurred, hours afterwards.

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Investigators later determined both vehicles were stolen, with the truck used in the Wednesday robbery reported missing from the Lantzville area a day prior.

“We had the dog out tracking for suspects on the second stolen pickup truck, we did not locate anybody and we have seized both vehicles,” Worth said. “They were examined by forensic examination services and we’re awaiting results.”

Despite the suspects being seen on surveillance video, no descriptions are being released. Worth said it was tough to get an idea of who they were given the thieves were wearing toques and masks.

Worth is also not confirming the same people are involved in both incidents but said it’s probable.

“The M.O. is the same so it’s very likely it’s the same people using stolen pickup trucks to commit offences in the overnight hours or in the early morning.”

He encouraged those in the area to report anything suspicious to Oceanside RCMP at 250 248 6111.

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