Image: Nikolas Chatzispiros / Chilliwack resident Nikolas Chatzispiros says this individual caught on camera stole cable wire and a lever hoist come along on Sunday, April 9 in a neighbourhood near Carleton and First Avenue. He says it was the second time in three days that his pickup truck had equipment stolen from it, and estimates his total loss to be over $5,000 between the two incidents. The RCMP are aware of the theft and the incident is under investigation. 

By Mike Vanden Bosch

Theft from Chilliwack neighbourhood

Brazen suspect comes back twice in one night to commit theft from Chilliwack neighbourhood

Apr 12, 2023 | 9:13 AM

CHILLIWACK — A Chilliwack resident says a brazen nighttime thief came back not once, but twice in one night to a Chilliwack neighbourhood near Carleton Street and First Avenue Sunday morning, April 9 and stole cable wire and a come along lever hoist from his truck.

Nikolas Chatzispiros says surveillance camera images and time stamps show a man in dark clothing hovering around his truck around 2:15 a.m. and 4:10 a.m. on April 9. Chatzispiros estimates the alleged thief was there in his driveway for approximately 15 minutes on each occasion. The neighbourhood where the theft occurred is about five streets west of F.G. Leary Fine Arts Elementary.

Image: Nikolas Chatzispiros / The suspect in a nighttime theft first appears on camera at 2:15 a.m. near Nikolas Chatzispiros’ truck on Sunday, April 9 near Carleton Street and First Avenue, about five streets west of F.G. Leary Fine Arts Elementary.

“On the night I caught (the) video, this thief actually came to my residence twice: once at 2:15 where he stole a come along (lever hoist) and the second time that night at 4:10 for the remainder of my welding cable,” Chatzispiros said. “He spent about 15 minutes at my residence each time.”

Chatzispiros says the suspect climbed up into the bed of his truck, unstrapped and removed ladders and other items from the back of the truck to gain access to where the cables were stored.

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He says the suspect got away with roughly 200 pounds of cable, a load so heavy that the man stumbles away from his driveway.

Image: Nikolas Chatzispiros / Surveillance imagery from Nikolas Chatzispiros shows the nighttime suspect crouch down and steal a heavy load of cable from Chatzispiros’ truck at 4:13 a.m. on Sunday, April 9.

Chatzispiros filed a police report and received a file number. Chilliwack RCMP Sgt. Krista Vrolyk confirmed Tuesday morning (Apr. 11) that police are aware of the incident of theft and says the matter is being investigated.

Chatzispiros says rising copper prices likely contributed to the incident because thieves can get top dollar for their stolen goods. Days prior to this nighttime incident, thieves targeted him but it wasn’t caught on camera.

“Yes, as the copper prices have risen drastically in the past few years, they are absurdly expensive,” Chatzispiros said. “I had roughly 500 feet of cable stolen between the two incidents. The first incident was 250 feet of 2/0 cable, which retails for anywhere from $7-10/foot depending on the supplier. And the second incident (the one I caught on camera) was roughly another 250 ft of 3/0 cable which retails for roughly $10-13/ft, depending on supplier.”

Thieves have one of three options once they steal these types of cables, Chatzispiros says. Crooks can attempt to sell or pawn the cable as is, whether that’s to friends, unassuming buyers, or knowing buyers; scrap the cables as is with insulation on at a local scrap yard, which can sometimes lead to them being caught if scrap yard employees ask tough questions and gather ID or identifying information; and lastly, strip the insulation off and scrap the bare copper.

Chatzispiros, a subcontracting mobile welder, estimates the total loss between the two incidents at over $5,000 in welding cables.

“And to make matters worse, my neighbour showed up at his house as this guy was stealing and they both seemed to be oblivious of each other,” he said. “At least this time, he’s on camera. At the end of my video you can see my neighbour return to his trailer. Unfortunately he didn’t notice the thief but it didn’t scare the thief off either. Any leads would be very helpful!”

After he posted video and pictures of the heist on social media, Chatzispiros says he heard from several Chilliwack residents who are equally frustrated with the amount of theft in Chilliwack.

“I have heard from many local folks after I shared my post and I know they are frustrated with all the theft in Chilliwack,” he said. “Unfortunately, I don’t believe many of us in the community think it will get any better. It appears to be flaws in our justice system which allows these prolific offenders to keep returning to the streets; regardless of how many times the RCMP or local police department catch them.”

He says the presence of Trans Mountain Pipeline and Coastal Gaslink projects in the Fraser Valley means there are more welding rings in the area than before. However, that makes trucks like his prime targets for gutsy thieves.

“I am a sub-contract mobile welder, so that truck and all the tools and equipment on/in the truck is my livelihood,” Chatzispiros said. “There is a lot more welding rigs similar to mine in the Lower Mainland and Fraser Valley now than ever before with the Trans Mountain Expansion project and Coastal Gaslink. This makes for very rich pickings for these thieves. For most rig welders it’s not a matter of if, but when their cables will be stolen. An unfortunate cost of doing business. Also, (it’s) very inconvenient and frustrating when you show up to a site or job and can’t work.”