Sunshine Coast RCMP are investigating two brazen break-ins to several businesses in Gibsons.
Early Saturday morning between 1 and 1:30 a.m., suspects broke in to Sunnycrest Mall and smashed their way in to at least five businesses. Police have not released any information on what businesses were targeted or what was taken in the thefts.The Vancouver forensics team was called in to investigate and processed the scene for clues. Police are also in the process of interviewing witnesses and reviewing surveillance footage from in and around the mall.
Early Monday morning, a second break and enter occurred, this time at the IGA Park Plaza where thieves targeted Budget Video and the adjoining LePage Realty office. Suspects forced open a rear door and while inside did substantial damage to the building. Suspects were able to bypass the security systems and took cash before leaving through a hole cut in a fence behind the mall.
Police believe the two incidents are related. "The two cases are similar in nature, so it's probably the same group," said Cpl. Todd Creed. "At Sunnycrest Mall the suspects cut a hole in one of the walls to get in. These guys knew what they were doing. It's a pretty high level operation and is a bit larger in nature than what we're used to in terms of the sophistication of the operation."
Police are asking for the public's assistance with information in both cases. If you have information for police, call the Sechelt detachment at 604-885-2266 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS(8477).
