Caught on camera: Suspects smash through Vancouver Island repair shop during theft

A Nanaimo, B.C., business owner says he was shocked after surveillance video captured suspects stealing a vehicle from his repair shop and smashing it through a bay door during an early morning break-in.

The incident happened at about 4:30 a.m. Tuesday at Precise Mechanical Repairs in Nanaimo’s Hammond Bay area.

Owner Jeff Whitworth said two people arrived in a red Nissan X-Trail and noticed a silver Nissan X-Trail parked inside the business.

“They attempted to get the back door open with no luck,” Whitworth said. “They ended up just putting it in reverse and backing right through it.”

Whitworth said the incident was unlike anything he has experienced before.

“We’ve had some windows broken and stuff on site,” he said. “But this is the first time for us getting something stolen from inside and driven through.”

The vehicle was an internal shop vehicle used for training and repair work, not a customer’s vehicle.

Whitworth said the break-in caused thousands of dollars in damage and has left one of the shop’s bays partially out of service.

“We’re working through with insurance right now,” he said. “At the end of the day, it’s disruptive to the business.”

A replacement door must be custom ordered, and Whitworth said it could take about four weeks before the bay is fully operational again.

“It’s very frustrating,” he said.

Whitworth said he was surprised by the extent of the damage.

“I was just in shock because we’re a local business serving local customers with local staff,” he said. “I couldn’t believe that someone would have that intention to cause that much damage to a building.”

‘I think it was targeted’

The stolen vehicle was a 2006 Nissan X-Trail. Whitworth said the model is relatively uncommon and noted the suspects arrived in the same type of vehicle, in a different colour.

“I think it was calculated.” he said.

Whitworth notes it is possible the suspects had seen the vehicle at the business before the theft. So far, the vehicle has not been recovered.

Nanaimo RCMP say the incident comes amid an increase in thefts involving older-model vehicles.

Reserve Const. Gary O’Brien said vehicles built before 2007 are often targeted because they lack immobilizers.

“Thieves can easily break in, just jimmy with the ignition and away they go,” O’Brien said.

Investigators believe the vehicle was targeted, although the reason remains unknown.

“That’s part of the investigation,” he said.

Whitworth said community support has been encouraging since news of the theft was shared online.

“The community’s kind of rallied behind us,” he said. “People are really supportive.”

Anyone with information about the theft is asked to contact Nanaimo RCMP.