Gas thefts cost kids group $10,000

Vehicle gas lines cut repeatedly at Boys & Girls Club in Nanaimo

Thieves stealing gas from Boys & Girls Club vehicles in Nanaimo have cost the non-profit group more than $10,000 in recent months and forced the cancellation of field trips.

“I sat in my parking lot last week when I had to cancel another field trip and just cried,” said Linda Janes, the area co-ordinator for the Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Vancouver Island.

The problem is that the criminals are doing more than just siphoning the gas, said Nanaimo RCMP Const. Gary O’Brien. “What they’re doing is cutting the gas lines to siphon the gas out quicker.”

That means the vehicles have to be taken off the road and repaired, Janes said.

“When they cut the gas lines, you actually have to have the vehicle towed to a service station, and it has to be a certified one that can work on commercial vehicles,” she said.

Gas theft has been an occasional problem that is getting worse, Janes said.

“This last six months, it’s been so over-the-top it’s almost like they’re targeting us for some reason.”

There have been at least a dozen gas thefts, including eight in the past two months from the club’s Fifth Street location.

Telling excited six- to 12-yearolds that an anticipated trip to the beach won’t be happening is hard to do, Janes said. Between 15 and 30 children can be affected by a single cancellation.

“I’ve been teaching them about theft and how it’s a trickledown effect where your gratification, because you got what you wanted, really affects a lot of people.”

O’Brien said he has a personal connection to the children involved.

“It’s extremely troubling because I’ve met these kids, they’re sweethearts,” he said.

He said the children are finding out something about the world.

“It’s a real-life lesson that there’s selfish people out there who don’t care about the needs of others,” O’Brien said. “To target a non-profit is just terrible.”

All of the club’s vehicles are in working order right now. Janes said several measures have been taken to prevent damage, including installation of floodlights and security cameras.

Nanaimo RCMP ask anyone with information to call them at 250-754-2345. To make a report without giving your name, contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222TIPS (8477), text 274637 using the keyword “Nanaimo” or go to nanaimocrimestoppers.com.