RCMP investigating $12,000 equipment theft from Lower Sackville business

Halifax District RCMP say over $12,000 worth of equipment has been stolen from a business on Sackville Drive.

Cpl. Dal Hutchinson said police were called by the business Tuesday, but they're not sure when the theft actually happened.

“Last Friday they discovered that thieves had entered a fenced-in compound and stole several pieces of equipment,” he said. “They are not able to identify and confirm when this theft took place.”

Hutchinson said the company is missing a Honda sand blower, two Husqvarna lawn mowers, a wood splitter and a gas mini dumper.

Earlier this week, Mounties said they were also investigating a theft at a Canadian Tire on Sackville Drive that happened around noon Sunday, police believe suspects loaded up carts, wheeled them into the garden centre, then loaded the items into a van through an opening they had cut through a fence.

Hutchinson said police will be looking to see if there are any connections between the two incidents.

He added unfortunately these 'crimes of opportunity' happen on a regular basis.

“They see something valuable that's stored, whether inside a secured area or outside a secured area,” he explained. “They wait for an opportunity to go in and remove those items, and they try to make a quick sale and a quick dollar.”

Police are encouraging businesses to ensure their property is well-lit and monitored by security cameras, and to check their fencing regularly to make sure it's secure.

They said it's also a good idea to keep a lit of stored equipment and document serial numbers, which could help recover the items.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Halifax District RCMP at 902-490-5020 or submit an anonymous tip through Crime Stoppers.