PIN Pad Thefts Six Arrested

Stores Should Mark Their PIN Pads

Six adults are in custody charged with theft and possession of stolen property after pin pads were stolen from upwards of ten local businesses earlier this week.

The first theft took place on Tuesday night around nine o’clock at the LandLubber Beer and Wine store located on Bowen Rd. In that incident, six adults, all of Asian descent ,entered the store and distracted the clerk. One of the group then took the pin pad and replaced it with another one. The clerk realizing their pin pad had been taken, immediately called police after the group left the store. She also noted the license plate of the vehicle the group left in .

The following day around six o’clock,the same group entered the Payless Shoe,located in the North Town Center Mall. Again, using the same technique, distracted the clerk then took the pin pad then replaced it with another. RCMP investigated and were satisfied the same group was involved.

As luck would have it, one of the persons involved in the first theft was stopped later on in the evening on the 24th and issued with a 24 driving prohibition under the Motor Vehicle Act . When the driver re-attended to the Nanaimo RCMP Detachment the next day to pick up his license an astute member noted the vehicle being driven was the same one seen outside the Landlubber Pub.

Officers quickly moved in and arrested the driver and one other passenger. Investigation then lead them to a room in the Ramada hotel and arrested four others ,three males and one female. During the course of the investigation two pin pads taken from two separate businesses were seized by the members.

All six were remanded into custody and made initial appearances in Nanaimo Provincial court yesterday. All were remanded to make an other appearance today.

Four males: Jumming LEI 18 ,Cheuk LEUNG 25, Jing HE 21,and Carson CHEUNG 18, along with two females: Bao LIN 21 and Rui LIN 23 have been charged with Theft Under $5000 and Possession of Stolen Property under $5000.

“ This group was highly organized and had specific locations in mind. A number of other businesses were impacted by this group and we are following up with them. Stores are asked to mark their pin pads to ensure they know if they have been tampered with. Spray paint , stickers or itchings will work. Also, pin pads should be mounted to counters and constantly monitored” said Constable Gary O’Brien, media spokesperson for the Nanaimo RCMP.

Anyone with information on these incidents is asked to contact the Nanaimo RCMP at 250-754-2345 or call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.