Nanaimo RCMP are currently investigating a break and enter incident that occurred at the People Jewellers, located in the Woodgrove Centre.
The incident took place shortly after 3 a.m. on Saturday, September 30th, and resulted in the theft of an estimated $100,000 worth of jewelry.
Within minutes of receiving the report, police officers, along with the assistance of Police Dog Services, arrived at the scene, however, the suspects managed to evade capture and are currently at large.
The investigation has revealed that the perpetrators gained access to the Woodgrove Centre by breaking through an exterior entrance to the mall, subsequently heading directly to the jewelry store in question.
The suspects used force to breach a security gate and subsequently shattered several glass display cases within the business to access and steal the jewelry inside.
Security footage shows there were three individuals involved in the incident and were dressed in dark clothing with hoods pulled up to conceal their identities. However, this video footage has not been released to the public at this time.
According to R/Constable Gary O’Brien of the Nanaimo RCMP, it is evident that this break and enter was not a random act but rather a well-orchestrated and coordinated effort.
“We are certain this was not a random incident but one that was well orchestrated and carried out with a degree of planning and coordination. With that in mind, investigators are liaising with other police agencies to determine if other similar thefts have occurred in their jurisdiction,” said O’Brien.
Anyone with information on this incident, please call the Nanaimo RCMP non-emergency line at 250-754-2345.
