Nanaimo landscaper Eleanor Hickey had a tough start to the new year, losing her tools in a break-in at her Kennedy Street home.
The door to the shed where the single mother keeps the tools she uses as a self-employed landscaper was pried open late New Year’s Day or early Jan. 2. She was home at the time but didn’t hear anything.
The stolen items include a leaf blower, two hedge trimmers and a weed eater, with a total value of about $2,000.
Hickey, a single mother who had no insurance, said she was “pretty devastated” when she realized what had happened.
“I have such a belief in humanity, and so to have it happen to me is shocking,” said Hickey, a self-employed landscaper for about 15 years whose company is called Papillawn Garden Services. “I had a few cuss words.”
As hard as the loss has been, however, some nice things have come out of it.
“I’ve had a cheque dropped off and people are being really kind,” said Hickey, who plans to be back weeding and using a leaf blower for a few customers today, but is limited in what she can do.
She is appealing to whomever took her tools to bring them back.
Nanaimo RCMP Const. Gary O’Brien said another shed was broken into on Kennedy Street around the same time, and items including a lawnmower were taken. “We figure it’s probably the same person, or one or two people working together.”
Such crimes are usually committed for the same reason, O’Brien said.
“They either convert it straight up for dope or sell it for a quick item on the street and then with that money buy their drugs.”
