Nanaimo RCMP are on the hunt for a man who stole from seniors while they were sleeping by climbing through the unlocked windows of their care home.
Police were called Friday morning when one of the residents woke up and realized that someone had been in her room as she slept and rummaged through her belongings, said Nanaimo RCMP spokesman Const. Gary O’Brien. Officers attended the scene and realized several other suites had been entered and vehicles in the parking lot broken into.
The name of the central Nanaimo care home was not released for privacy and safety reasons, O’Brien said.
The break-in happened at about 4:10 Friday morning.
The masked man was caught on video surveillance cameras attempting to enter the care home through the front doors. He couldn’t get in as the interior doors were locked.
The man gained access to the suites by climbing through unlocked ground level windows, O’Brien said.
The man was wearing a dark balaclava, dark pants and a black hoodie, with white lettering on the front. His left hand which was covered in a cast and his pinky finger and ring finger were wrapped in a bandage.
“The care facility is reviewing their security features and working with residents to ensure ground level windows are kept locked at all times,” O’Brien said.
Investigators still don’t know exactly what was stolen but believe the thief may have made off with a small amount of costume jewelry.
Anyone with information on the break-in is asked to call Nanaimo RCMP at 250-754-2345 or report anonymously through Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.
