The Nanaimo RCMP is pleased to report that the 36-year old woman who was reported missing on August 16, 2024 has been safely located. Investigators would like to thank the media and the public for their assistance in locating her.
Arrest made in
New Year's day incident
Aug. 15, 2024
The Nanaimo RCMP Serious Crime Unit (SCU) has arrested an adult male in connection with a shooting incident that occurred on January 1, 2024. 47-year old Jeffery Benvin was arrested without incident by officers with SCU as a result of an incident that occurred on January 1, 2024 at a south end business. The victim, a 43-year old man, sustained life-threatening injuries after being physically assaulted, and shot by a firearm. The victim was treated at the scene by BCEHS then airlifted to a hospital in Victoria for treatment. He has since been released from hospital and is recovering.
Benvin has been formally charged with Discharge a Firearm with Intent to Disfigure, Aggravated Assault and Use a Firearm while committing and indictable offence. Benvin will be appearing in Nanaimo Provincial Court on Thursday August 15, 2024.
Break and Enter to restaurant
File # 2024-25985
Overnight on Tuesday August 13, the O’Falafel restaurant located at 1588 Boundary Ave was broken into. The front door was smashed by a large rock and entrance gained to the interior. Police found an empty cash box belonging to the business in some bushes behind the restaurant. CCTV camera showed a suspect leaving the business at 5:12 AM carrying a cash box that reportedly held no cash. The suspect was seen wearing a light-colored hoody, dark pants and dark shoes with white laces.
Break and enter to restaurant
File # 2024-25979
Just after 5:30 AM on Monday August 12,2024 Smokin Georges restaurant located at 4131 Mostar Road was broken into. A nearby resident heard glass breaking and called police. Police responded and found the front door smashed open. Police spoke with an employee who said nothing of value was taken or missing.
Theft of mountain bike
File # 2024-25983
Just after 4 am on Monday August 12, 2024 a mountain bike was stolen from an unlocked basement to a residence on Akenhead Road in Cedar. The owner told police he checked his CCTV camera and saw an unidentified man checking the doors to his vehicles. This person then walked into his backyard and opened his basement door. The suspect stole a black Giant 22 bicycle with serial # G6HA35891. CCTV footage showed a male (face not seen), wearing blue jeans, blue jacket and carrying a blue back pack. The suspect may have left along Akenhead Road.
Online fraud File #2024-26042
Recently a Nanaimo resident entered into an agreement to buy some clothing on the social media platform called Market Place. Once the money was sent to the seller, the recipient stopped responding to messages and the buyer did not receive the item they purchased. Note: Any online purchase has a degree of risk. Before sending cash to someone that you have only met online make sure to review the individuals profile thoroughly and read all customer reviews from previous transactions. Also, if a buyer has few friends or their profile was recently created, these should be red flags for you.
Theft of lawn ornament
File # 2024-26039
Sometime in the past week an 80-pound grey turtle lawn ornament was stolen from the front lawn of a home on Devon Place. The owner believes several very large toads or two strong backed teenagers would be required to carry it away. The owner believes it was taken as a prank and hopefully it will most likely show up on a nearby neighbors’ lawn.
Abandoned 911 calls
File # 2024-26034
At approximately 2:30 PM on Monday August 12, 2024 Nanaimo RCMP received several abandoned 911 calls. Dispatchers advised the attending officers that the calls were shown as coming from a nearby island. Two officers with the assistance of the Nanaimo Port Authority vessel traveled to the island to investigate the calls. Upon arrival the officers located a summer camp consisting of upwards of 15 youths, along with several camp leaders. The officers spoke with one of the camp leaders who was visibly upset by the actions of his group. He assured the officers that he and the other camp leaders would not tolerate this behaviour and would make this a teachable moment for the group. The officers then spoke to the youths around the seriousness of making 911 calls. They pointed out their actions prevented dispatchers and police from dealing with other legitimate police calls. They also pointed out that that the Nanaimo Port Authority vessel and crew who transported the officers were tied up due to the actions of the group and were unable to respond to other marine situations.
Can you identify
this person?
Aug. 13, 2024
The Nanaimo RCMP is asking for the public’s assistance in identifying the man shown in this photo. It is alleged that just before 5 PM on Friday July 12 an unidentified man stole an 18-inch Minecraft boys mountain bike from Toys-R-Us in Woodgrove Centre. The suspect is male, 25-35 years old, medium build, medium height with a dark complexion.
If anyone has information on the identity of this person, please contact the Nanaimo RCMP non-emergency line at 250-754-2345.
Aug. 9, 2024
Suspicious downtown
fire under investigation
A suspicious fire outside the Bar Luna Restaurant at 7 Victoria Road is under investigation. The blaze was spotted by a front-line police officer on patrol. Fire crews were able to contain it to the exterior of the building. Flames caused extensive damage to the exterior while the inside of the building sustained smoke and water damage. The fire is deemed suspicious and was most likely intentionally set. Police are canvassing the area looking for any CCTV cameras and potential witnesses. If you have information on this incident, please contact the Nanaimo RCMP non-emergency line at 250-754-2345.
RCMP investigating a sexual assault on bus
Aug 8, 2024
The police are investigating an allegation of a stranger sexual assault that occurred on July 11, 2024, between 5:10 pm and 5:30 pm on a # 40 bus, “The VIU Express.”
The young person reported to police that they were seated in a window seat near the front of the very crowded bus. An unknown male sat beside them, rubbed against them with his arm, and slid his hand down their hip and leg.
The encounter ended when the young person picked up their bag from the floor in preparation for exiting the bus downtown. The unknown male rang the buzzer, alerting the driver to stop, and left the bus at the 5th Street and Shepherd bus stop.
The suspect is a Caucasian male late 20s to mid 30’s in age, with brown hair, brown beard, black glasses, bright blue eyes, black shorts, black flip flops and a button-up white and orange patterned shirt
The police are requesting that anyone who may have witnessed the assault on the bus or has information about the unidentified person in the photo to contact the Nanaimo RCMP at (250) 754-2345.
Posted by Cst. Sherry Wade
Proactive patrols
recover stoken bikes
24-08-06
Three high-value bikes with a collective value of $10,000, were located and returned to their owners in the past month, thanks to proactive patrols by Nanaimo RCMP’s Special Investigations and Targeted Enforcement Unit (SITE). The bikes, ranging from full suspension mountain bikes to an electric bike were located at various locations throughout the city.
In each case officers with SITE while conducting patrols in high crime and disorder areas of Nanaimo, observed known repeat property offenders in possession of expensive looking bikes. In all instances, the officers had prior knowledge thanks to the bike owners previously reporting the theft and providing quality photos of the bikes, including serial numbers.
In each case, three adults, ranging in ages from 35 to 49, were arrested for Possession of Stolen Property. The bikes were then seized for safe keeping. The names of the accused cannot be released at this time as charges have not been formalized.
We would be remiss in not reminding cyclists to always take pictures of their bikes including serial numbers, and to lock their bikes when they are left in public areas. Also, if the bike is stolen to report the theft to the police with pictures as soon as possible.
SO MUCH FOR THE FIRST HALF of the year, July heralds the beginning of the second half of 2024. And it promises to be eventful, particularly with a provincial election on the calendar. So the politicians will be chewing our ears off with some fact but a lot more hot air. Fasten your seat belts.
DON'T FORGET TO PAY – I hate to flog a dead horse, but the property tax deadline is today before the end of business hours at city hall. If you miss the deadline it will cost you a pile more than the already-high tab you're facing.
ALL ABOARD. Riding the choo choo used to have a certain cache to it. Those pining for nostalgia, head on down to Port Alberni where the trains are running again. The Western Vancouver Island Industrial Heritage Society has an agreement with the city to run the train three days a week. Tickets are eight bucks for adults and six bucks for seniors, kids and youth. The #11 Diesel Locomotive will run every weekend and the #102 Logging Crew Speeder will run on Mondays. Departure time is 11 a.m., 1 p.m. and 2 p.m. throughout the summer on both trains. MORE
ALMOST TWO DOZEN HOMES were hit by by flash flooding in the Interior after heavy rain closed the Trans-Canada Highway near Kamloops. The regional district said no injuries or damage to critical infrastructure had been reported, but officials are working with residents of at least 20 homes that were affected by floodwaters. Savona-area residents reported sewage smells around their homes following the flooding. MORE
WESTJET AND ITS MECHANICS have reached a tentative agreement that ended a days-long strike but travel woes are not back to normal for all passengers. The airline was moving toward business as usual but warned there would be further disruptions over the coming weeks as operations returned to normal. Some of the destinations on the impacted flights include Los Cabos, Las Vegas, San Francisco, Toronto, Edmonton and Calgary. WestJet cancelled 78 scheduled flights across the country Monday, and an additional three on Tuesday. MORE
WHERE DO POLITICIANS park their brains after being elected? Manitoba NDP MP Niki Ashton has paid back part of the thousands of dollars she spent on a Christmastime trip for her and her family out of public funds.The trip cost more than $17,000 for a Christmas Day trip to Quebec City and Montreal. Her husband and two children flew from her northern Manitoba riding to Ottawa on Dec. 21, 2022. Then the family flew to Quebec City on Christmas Day “to meet with stakeholders about business of the House.” She’s paid back $2,900 so far but when is she going to pay for the balance? MORE
WEB QUOTE – I tried to follow the science but it simply was not there. Then I followed the money and that’s where I found the science.