Vancouver police are investigating a pair of heartless thefts targeting one of B.C.’s biggest charities.
The first burglary took place on New Year’s Day, when thieves somehow accessed the BC Cancer Foundation’s West Broadway office and ransacked it.
Computers, laptops, iPads, a TV monitor, a digital camera and a number of other items were stolen.
“They took random things. They took a bag of coffee – who knows why,” said Eric Dirks, the foundation’s vice-president of development.
The thieves also made off with Dirks’s bike, which he used to raise money multiple times participating in the Ride to Conquer Cancer.
Adding insult to injury, the thieves returned the next day and did more damage, which included leaving a stain on the floor by dumping out a carton of chocolate milk.
The BC Cancer Foundation raised $52 million last year to support cancer research. Officials described the recent thefts as disrespectful to the 26,000 British Columbians who will be diagnosed with the disease this year.
“When you walk in through the door you can clearly see it says BC Cancer Foundation. This isn’t an opulent office; we’re a charity,” Dirks said.
“We’re just still scratching our heads.”
The Vancouver Police Department has obtained surveillance video related to the case and are looking for DNA and fingerprint evidence in the office.
Police said they’re hopeful that suspects will be identified, but no arrests have been made so far.
The BC Cancer Federation said people who have donated to its cause shouldn’t be concerned about their personal information being breached by the theft, because donor details are stored on a network behind a firewall.
With a report from CTV Vancouver’s Nafeesa Karim
