Power was cut off to this upscale north Nanaimo neighbourhood in July, 2018 in an apparent bid by two offenders to use darkness to break into vehicles. (Ian Holmes/NanaimoNewsNOW)

By Ian Holmes

Strange crime

Power purposely cut in bizarre attempt to steal from vehicles in Nanaimo

Aug 6, 2019 | 1:19 AM

NANAIMO — Knocking out power to street lights during a late night north end crime spree wasn’t a bright idea for two offenders.

Michael Anthony James Goldsbury, 30, and Desirae Lyn Connors, 23, both pleaded guilty for their roles in the July 9, 2018 incident which shut off power to people living on Gulfview Dr.

Crown prosecutor Brett Webber outlined the bizarre sequence of events during a recent sentencing hearing.

“(Goldsbury) opened up the street light standards on Gulfview Dr. severing the power to that neighbourhood…It caused the whole neighbourhood to fall into darkness,” he said.

Webber later told NanaimoNewsNOW cutting the power appeared to be a ploy using the shield of darkness to help the pair steal items from vehicles.

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The strategy failed as a Gulfview Dr. resident went outside to investigate the sudden widespread outage and phone police.

Goldsbury was arrested soon after while he was leaving the area.

Webber said drug addiction was the motivation behind the crimes.

Goldsbury was convicted of mischief under $5,000 and handed one year probation, which includes substance abuse treatment.

His punishment included paying $2,000 restitution to the City of Nanaimo for the damaged street light.

The power dismantling was not the only incident Goldsbury answered to during his court appearance.

He was also convicted of stealing $180 worth of meat and razors from a local grocery store several months after being arrested.

His associate Connors pleaded guilty to a theft charge in relation to a stolen GPS unit from a Gulfview Dr. vehicle.

In a separate incident, Connors pleaded guilty to obstructing an Oceanside Mountie during her arrest in Coombs in November, 2018.

Judge R.D. Miller ordered a pre-sentence report for Connors, who will be sentenced at a later date.

ian@nanaimonewsnow.com

On Twitter: @reporterholmes