Nanaimo, B.C., contractor praised for anti-theft devices to protect his tools

NANAIMO, B.C. – A Nanaimo, B.C., contractor has learned from bitter experience and the result was slim pickings for thieves in the Vancouver Island city.

RCMP say they were called to a construction site near Westwood Lake on Nanaimo’s west side, early Wednesday morning.

A storage container filled with construction tools had been broken into, but investigators believe the thief or thieves was scared off by the alarm on the container door.

An infrared camera was also set up to snap a photo and send a text to contractor Chris Mitchell, although police have not said if anyone has been identified.

Police say Mitchell decided to protect his tools in 2012 after equipment worth $10,000 was stolen from a container that was not alarmed.

In the first robbery, he was forced to lay off 10 workers until his tools could be replaced, but RCMP believe his anti-theft plan thwarted the latest heist and they urge all contractors to take the same steps.

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