RCMP is seeking the public’s help locating a large emergency generator that was stolen from Nanaimo Lifeline — personal help response service operated by the Nanaimo & District Hospital Foundation.
According to police, the incident took place sometime between Sunday, January 2 and Tuesday, January 4, when the generator was “unlawfully taken” from Nanaimo Lifeline, located in the 1800-block of Bowen Road.
Police say that unknown suspects entered the commercial property and detached the large Generac brand generator before leaving the area.
“Given the size of the generator, a large vehicle and at least several individuals would have been required to remove the device,” note police.
The generator itself is used to provide backup emergency power for Nanaimo Lifeline, which offers a personal emergency response service to residents of central Vancouver Island. Nanaimo Lifeline operates by providing buttons to seniors and medically at-risk people in the area, who can then use those buttons to summon help in the event of an emergency.
“This crime appears to have taken place in plain view of the public and would have taken some time to complete due to size and weight of the generator. As the owner/operator of this device is an essential health service, and it is incredibly important that this item be located and put back into use for the well-being of the community,” said Constable Gary O’Brien of the Nanaimo RCMP.
Anyone with information on the whereabouts of the generator is being asked to call the Nanaimo RCMP non-emergency line at 250-754-2345 and quote file #2022-312.
Graham Cox
