A gas thief struck at the Beachcomber Marina in Nanoose Bay early Sunday morning, making off not only with gasoline, but also the gas tank that contained it.
Oceanside RCMP Corporal Kim Graham said the incident took place at about 1:30 a.m. when police received a report of a theft in progress.
Officers raced to the scene, where they spoke to several witnesses. One witness reported seeing a suspicious man walking up and down the docks for almost 20 minutes earlier that morning. The man was seen near a docked boat, which was visibly moving in the water, suggesting he had boarded it.
A short time later, the suspicious man left the marina in a white Boston Whaler-style boat with a four stroke motor.
The local Coast Guard were contacted and they made patrols from French Creek Marina past Beachcomber Marina but they were not able to locate any boats.
Graham said checks with the owner of the boat observed moving in the water, confirmed that a gas tank had been stolen.
Graham said theft of gasoline in around marinas on Vancouver Island is a common occurrence.
Anyone with information on this crime, is asked to call the RCMP at 250-248-6111, or Crimestoppers at 1-888-222-8477.
— News staff