Photo: Contributed

Nelson police say a local contractor is out several thousand dollars in tools after equipment was stolen from an apartment renovation job.

Police said on Wednesday, Oct. 23, the detachment was contacted by a contractor who reported the theft after leaving tools inside an apartment overnight.

“He advised officers that he was currently doing renovations to a vacant apartment and had left his tools inside overnight,” Nelson police said.

“When he returned to the site the next morning, the tools were gone.”

Nelson police said the apartment building showed no obvious signs of forced entry.

Investigators said witnesses have reported various suspicious circumstances in or around the building, but nothing has yet been definitively linked to the theft.

“Police are still looking to recover the tools, which were stored in two hard cloth tool bags,” Nelson police said.

All tools were marked with the initials “JR”.

Nelson police are asking anyone from the public with information related to this case to come forward.

“While Nelson Police deal with cases of planned burglary, it is more often a crime of opportunity,” Nelson Police said.

Nelson Police said there are several measures in place to deter criminals from targeting a home or business.

• Make sure all windows and doors are secured when no one is present
• Install lighting around entrances, ideally on a motion sensor
• Keep trees or bushes trimmed so that they do not obstruct the view
• Keep spaces free of litter
• An alarm system or monitored cameras is also a prudent investment

Nelson Police Youth Academy

Nelson Police is hosting its first Youth Police Academy this November.

The Youth Academy is open to all students between the ages of 12 and 17 and will be an introduction to the world of law enforcement.

Registration remains open until October 27. For more information, visit Nelson Police website.