Help Replace Stolen Football Equipment

Thieves make off with $50,000 in football equipment

It’s been a tough past few years off the field for the VI Raiders Jr football team as they have had to deal with several significant off-field incidents. Last September they had their changeroom at Comox Field broken into with damages and some equipment theft estimated at $15,000. In early August, a fire was deliberately set at their facility at Caledonia Park and ended up charring the outside of their building and causing significant smoke damage to the interior. The most recent incident saw thieves break into their equipment building and steal an estimated $50,000 in practice and game equipment. This most recent incident occurred sometime overnight on Wednesday August 31, 2022, at their Caledonia practice facility located at 110 Wall St.

Police attended and noted significant pry marks to the metal door. The door was breached allowing for access to the interior of the building. Once inside, thieves made off with a significant amount of equipment ranging from helmets, jerseys, pads, footballs, tents, compressors, head sets and various other pieces of equipment and tools. A full list of stolen items is attached.

Josh Williams, VP and General Manger of the Raiders said “I am beyond frustrated. We’re trying our best to provide a positive development experience for these kids but it seems that just as we get past one setback, we’re hit with another one. There is no sugar coating or minimizing the impact this theft will have on our team moving forward. Right now, I really don’t know how were going to recover from it”. The Raiders are registered as a non-profit organization and rely solely on community sponsorships, and game day operations to fund their program.

Investigators believe it would have taken thieves upwards of 30-45 minutes to break in, then haul the equipment off and take it away in waiting vehicles. “At least two people with two or more vehicles had to be involved”, said R/Constable Gary O’Brien of the Nanaimo RCMP.

If anyone heard or saw anything, please call the Nanaimo RCMP non-emergency and quote file # 2022-30744.

R/Cst Gary O'Brien

Nanaimo RCMP Media Relations Officer

Nanaimo RCMP Media Advisory

Nanaimo file # 2022-30744

**List of Stolen Items

List of stolen items

1.12 helmets

2.20 black and white jerseys

3.15 sets of shoulder pads

4.30 practise jerseys

5.35 girdles

6.Head sets

7.20 team bags with logo on sides

8.Two boxes of game balls

9.Yard markers, down markers chains, goal pads, treatment table

10.Two 10x10 tents

11.Rolling tool box with assorted equipment

12.Ten flats of Gator Aid

13.Two boxes of LED lights

14.Radio

15. Tools: bolt cutter, wrench, air compressor, hole punch set

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