Peter Sinclair (left), executive director with the Nanaimo Loaves and Fishes Community Food Bank, and RCMP Cst. Chris Voller returning stolen bottles back to Loaves and Fishes Community Food Bank. (submitted photo)

By NanaimoNewsNOW Staff

theft thwarted

Stolen bottles & cans from Nanaimo food bank successfully recovered

Aug 18, 2025 | 10:37 AM

NANAIMO — Donated cans and bottles stolen from a local food bank had a successful outcome.

Quality security camera footage and quick thinking from Loaves and Fishes Community Food Bank staff led to the arrest one person who stole two, large bags of refundable bottles and cans, worth around $500, from their Farquhar St. location on Thursday, Aug 14 at around 6 a.m.

Nanaimo RCMP Res. Cst. Gary O’Brien said officers attended around 8:30 a.m., shortly after the theft was discovered by food bank staff.

“We looked at the video, and identified two people. Before that happened, Peter Sinclair, the executive director (of Loaves and Fishes), he contacted the local bottle depot to say ‘be on the look out, they’re probably headed your way with bottles.’ About three minutes later, one guy actually showed up with the bottles.”

An officer attended the Victoria Rd. bottle depot and arrested the suspect.

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The bags of stolen bottles and cans were eventually located across the street, with the suspect in the process of processing them for a refund at the bottle depot.

O’Brien said in the process of doing so, the suspect had made a mess with bottles and cans and other items “spread out all over the place”.

“It was left to one of our junior members, Cst. Cam Voller, and he got quite persuasive with the individual, and said, ‘look, here’s the situation, you’re looking at theft charges, possibly a possession stolen property as well, or you can clean up your mess.’ A light bulb went on, he realized that it’s probably a pretty good deal.”

Cleanup took around 30 minutes.

Staff at the food bank opted not to press charges on the man, however police note he is banned from the recycling depot moving forward.

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