Suspected thieves used a sledgehammer to smash their way into the Gold Silver Guy location along Nanaimo's Townsite Rd. around 4:00 a.m. Wednesday morning, making off with some items. (Jordan Davidson/NanaimoNewsNOW)

By Jordan Davidson

smash and grab

‘We keep getting back up:’ thieves smash hole to gain access to Nanaimo’s Gold Silver Guy

Nov 19, 2025 | 4:26 PM

NANAIMO — Being woken up to the sound of his business’s security alarm going off is unfortunately nothing new for one local store manager.

Jeremy Daniels with Gold Silver Guy in Nanaimo got the alarm call at 4:00 a.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 19, and rushed down to their location on Townsite Rd. to find several police already on scene and a large hole smashed into the side of his business used to gain entry.

“Nobody inside by the time the cops got here,” said Daniels. “They were here within six or seven minutes of the alarm going off, so they didn’t have a lot of time. They didn’t get far enough into the store, but far enough in that they did find some valuables.”

He said it appears the thieves made off with trays of coins, which are difficult to inventory but could be worth thousands of dollars.

This is not the first time someone has attempted to break into this back room of the Gold Silver Guy in Nanaimo, forcing them to use multiple layers of security. (Jordan Davidson/NanaimoNewsNOW)

On the Lake

Training, fundraising take precedence in winter months for Nanaimo Rowing Club

11h ago

clean-up

Locals plan to remove shoreline hazard in Qualicum Beach

Dec 13, 2025

Wings Clipped

Seguin-Lescarbeau and Rimmer lead Clippers to Teddy Bear Toss win

Dec 13, 2025

Daniels said this is the first break-in at their Townsite Rd. location this year, but the 27th break-in to one of their businesses in 26 years, with three in Nanaimo and one in Qualicum Beach.

An almost identical break-in occurred at their store Deals 4 You on Metral Dr. in August of 2023. While nothing was taken from the store during that incident, the repairs cost the owner thousands of dollars.

Their Qualicum location was targeted in a similar break-in style only a few months later, leaving a big hole in the building and the owner’s wallet.

It was the third break-in at that location for the year.

Daniels said theft is a constant issue for them, with their Qualicum store falling victim again on Saturday, with three suspects allegedly involved in the theft occurring during business hours.

He said one of the suspects distracted the staff member while the other managed to gain access to their safe, taking approximately $60,000 in inventory and cash.

“We do everything that we can, and every time the rats find a way in, we gotta find a way to plug the hole….we’ll figure our things out. They keep trying to knock us down, but we keep getting back up.”

Nanaimo RCMP are investigating.

The suspected thieves not only smashed through the wall, but they also cut through a piece of steel mesh secured against the inside wall. (Jordan Davidson/NanaimoNewsNOW)

We’re on Bluesky! Stay up to date on news across central Vancouver Island through Bluesky, by following @NanaimoNewsNOW.bsky.social.

info@nanaimonewsnow.com

Follow us on: Twitter (X) | Bluesky | Facebook