They had an apparent affinity for road signs.
Oceanside RCMP fielded a report on Feb. 6 that a road sign with flashing hazards and a solar panel were reported stolen at the intersection of Rupert Road West and Memorial Avenue in Qualicum Beach.
Three days later in Parksville, a vehicle was reported to have knocked over a stop sign and put the traffic control device in the back of the truck at the intersection of Belkin and Amity Way.
During the week of Feb. 3 to Feb. 9, Oceanside RCMP received 219 complaints. Some of the other incidents included:
A residential break-and-enter was reported with furniture, a camp stove and copper wire/pipe missing in the 2700 block of Grafton Avenue in Qualicum Beach on Feb. 6. The next day, a resident reported losing $700 responding to an online ad for firewood requiring an e-transfer. Also Feb. 7, a vehicle was reported vandalized with a single full-length scratch in the 700 block of Canyon Crescent road in Qualicum Beach. Two heavy duty batteries were reported stolen from an excavator at the intersection of Fairdowne Road and Smithers Road in Parksville the same day.
On Feb. 8, a community postal box was reported damaged with a number of mail slots opened in the 2300 block of Andover Road in Nanoose Bay. Another community postal box was reported damaged with a number of mail slots opened at the intersection of Redden Road and Outrigger Road, also in Nanoose Bay.
On Feb. 9, a business break-and-enter was reported with more than $1,500 of food missing from a storage shed in the 6900 block of Island Highway West in Bowser.
A tiger-USA knife was found behind Wembley Mall in Parksville on Feb. 3. Contact Oceanside RCMP during regular business hours to claim quoting file number 2025-997.
If you see a crime in progress phone 911. The Oceanside RCMP non-emergency number is 250-248-6111 and the detachment is located at 421 Pym Street North, Parksville, with public business hours of 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday to Friday, except holidays.
