British Columbia

Bright Nights in Stanley Park hit by thieves a second time

For the second time in two months thieves have targeted the Bright Nights display in Stanley Park by stealing $5,000 worth of lights.

$5,000 worth of lights were stolen from the Bright Nights display

Thieves stole $7,000 worth of materials on Remembrance Day from Bright Nights. It was hit again last Sunday. (CBC)

For the second time in two months thieves have targeted the Bright Nights display in Vancouver's Stanley Park. 

Last Sunday, $5,000 worth of lights were stolen from the charity-run event that raises funds for people in hospital burn units across the city. 

"It hurts everybody, it hurts our cause. I mean if we have to pay for lights that are stolen and so on, that hurts our bottom line when we look at doing our program with the burn fund," said Ray Boucher with the B.C. Professional Firefighters Association Burn Fund. 

The same display was targeted in November, when thieves smashed an electrical box open and stole copper wire and extension cords. The damage from that incident was estimated to be around $6,000 to $7,000. 

The Vancouver Park Board says it's now reviewing its security measures on the grounds and is offering to pay to replace the stolen lights. 

Ray Boucher shows an electrical box in Stanley Park after thieves stole thousands of dollars in copper wire from the Bright Nights charity in November. (CBC)

Since November, at least eight Metro Vancouver charities have been targeted by thieves. 

  1. Remembrance Day poppy box thefts
  2. Bright Nights copper wire theft
  3. Langley food bank robbed 3 times in 3 days
  4. Surrey Search and Rescue trucks hit
  5. Surrey NightShift van trashed
  6. B.C. Cancer Foundation break-ins leave staff shaken
  7. Diamond stolen from Burnaby Neighbourhood House
  8. Bright Nights hit again

With files from Farrah Merali.