Thieves have made off with between $2,500 and $5,000 worth of merchandise from Naesgaard’s Farm Market on River Road.
In the morning of Friday, Oct. 14, Port Alberni RCMP received a report of a break-and-enter to Naesgaard’s. The illegal entry was discovered by employees arriving for their morning shift, according to RCMP.
“They pried open a padlock to open the front gate of the market,” owner Helgie Naesgaard said of the thieves. “They may have boldly parked a vehicle, probably a truck or a van, in front of the gate and loaded up our merchandise. A couple of the gargoyles weigh over 100 pounds,” he added.
Two large and six smaller gargoyles were taken, as was another statue called ‘Earth Goddess’, which looks like a woman reclining on the ground.
Numerous other items were also taken, including flower pots, two large outdoor paintings of Buddha, a red metal cat ornament, about 30 metal novelty signs, a glass ornamental pumpkin and a lawnmower, according to Port Alberni RCMP Cpl. Amelia Hayden.
It has been a while since Naesgaard’s was hit with theft, and nothing this significant, Naesgaard said.
“We’ve had things stolen, but not recently. We’ve been fortunate.
“The RCMP have been attentive and helpful,” he said, adding that someone from Citizens on Patrol offered to step up patrols in that area.
Anyone with information about the theft from Naesgaard’s is asked to call the Port Alberni RCMP detachment at 250-723-2424 or Crime Stoppers, 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).
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