A family living in a rural area south of Nanaimo was served a harsh reminder to lock doors and windows, after a brazen overnight theft while they slept. (File photo/NanaimoNewsNOW)

By Alex Rawnsley

brazen theft

‘We don’t see that very often:’ rural Nanaimo home robbed as family sleeps inside

Sep 17, 2024 | 3:05 PM

NANAIMO — Several high-value items, including a vehicle, were taken after a family returning from a day in Vancouver forgot to lock their doors.

A father and son were returning to their Farrar Rd. home, off Yellow Point Rd., from the Lower Mainland in the early morning hours of Sunday, Sept. 15 and immediately went to bed at around 1 a.m. for a long night’s sleep after a big day.

When they got up in the morning, they quickly noticed a number of missing items, including their 2001 BMW X5 from the driveway, a new set of golf clubs, a computer, keys, a wallet and a purse.

Reserve Cst. Gary O’Brien said it’s believed the suspects got into the house through a door which was left unlocked after the pair came home, with investigators trying to identify the thief or thieves responsible.

“We’re thinking maybe one or two. Maybe one stayed outside as a lookout then one went inside, two would attract more attention. It’s quite brazen to begin with, to go into a house at night when you know there’s probably people sleeping…we don’t see that very often.”

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O’Brien said there was family living nearby, so the chance of the thieves being seen was very high.

Credit cards belonging to the family were used at a nearby gas bar before the vehicle was then presumably driven to the Oceanside area.

An Apple Airtag inside the backpack was tracked to Parksville before it stopped transmitting.

Police are canvassing at the gas bar for security footage, along with checking in at local pawn shops for the stolen items, particularly the golf clubs, a new set of Tour Edge Exotics with after-market grips.

O’Brien said the incident is a “harsh reminder” for everyone.

“You should always lock your doors and windows. Admittedly, they got quite complacent, they’d been living in the area for years, they’d never had an issue but then they got bitten.”

He said it’s especially important people secure their homes before going out or heading to bed.

“This is unfortunately what we have to do now in our society, you can’t take anything for granted and you have to protect your property, this is how you do it.”

Anyone with information on the stolen property, or the identity of those responsible is asked to contact Nanaimo RCMP at 250 754 2345, quoting file number 2024-30288.

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