B.C. Cancer Foundation break-ins leave staff shaken
Computers, electronics and a bike with sentimental value among the items stolen
Two break-ins at the B.C. Cancer Foundation over the holidays have left staff feeling shaken.
The organization's office on West Broadway in Vancouver was first targeted on New Year's Eve. Then, when staff returned after the holidays, they discovered they had been broken into again sometime over the weekend.
"To come into a cancer foundation, the largest funder of cancer research in the province — we were in disbelief," said Erik Dierks, the foundation's vice-president of development.
The thief, or thieves, smashed windows and stole computers, hard drives, a television, even a bag of coffee beans and some loose change.
But for Dierks, one of the biggest losses was a personal item — the bike he rode in the Ride to Conquer Cancer for the past two years.
The bicycle fundraiser has about 2,000 participants that ride between Vancouver and Seattle, and Dierks said it has raised over $70 million in the last seven years.
"To take the bike from someone, one of those 2,000 people, I really can't understand why that would happen," said Dierks.
Vancouver Police said they have gathered some video from the building and hope to identify a suspect soon.
The foundation said it plans to install cameras in its office and has brought in a security guard.
With files from Brenna Rose