By Ian Holmes

‘I’m sick of this:’ Victim of multiple thefts protests outside Nanaimo Courthouse

Mar 28, 2018 | 4:32 PM

 NANAIMO — Tony Puhalski has had enough.

The Nanaimo man has protested outside the Nanaimo Courthouse for the past week, demanding a more effective justice system.

Puhalski said he’s had his truck and boat targeted by thieves four times since moving to Nanaimo eight years ago. He said the thefts have cost him $4,000 worth of lost valuables and insurance deductibles.

“I’ve been working over 40-years and part of my hourly wage goes to these people behind me to do their job and I think they could be doing a little more,” Puhalski told NanaimoNewsNOW, surrounded by numerous signs outlining his plight.

Puhalski said investigations and court proceedings from the thefts resulted in a single sentence and no jail time.

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He said he’s now having a hard time getting insurance.

Puhalski said having a boat motor stolen recently for the second time in six months has his frustration boiling over.

“I was at a retirement party when I got the call that my boat motor was stolen again and it was never even in the water,” Puhalski said. “I moved it from the driveway to secure storage where they had cameras all set up.”

Puhalski said he understands Mounties are busy, but he’d like to hear back from the officer investigating the recent unsolved crime.

He said perhaps lowering the threshold of admissible evidence in court would make a difference.

“They can get together as a group and make a small change at a time to stop thieving in Nanaimo. I know there’s a big drug problem, but it’s like everything else if you look at the big picture you don’t do anything.”

Puhalski has weighed his options and now intends to sell his boat.

“I feel imprisoned in my own town,” he said. 

NanaimoNewsNOW was directed from the Nanaimo Crown Counsel office to the BC Prosecution Service for comment.

The story will be updated if and when a response is made.

ian@NanaimoNewsNow.com

On Twitter: @reporterholmes