Police in Nanaimo are turning to the public for help after a shotgun was stolen from a parked pickup truck in the city’s north end earlier this month. Nanaimo RCMP say the break-in happened sometime between the early morning hours and late morning of June 6, 2026, while the vehicle was parked in the 100 block of Cameron Road near the Nanaimo Maritime Museum. Investigators say an unknown individual smashed the rear passenger window of the truck and stole a Mossberg 500 Mossy Oak 12-gauge pump-action shotgun. A blanket believed to have been used to conceal the firearm was also taken, along with a bank card. No ammunition was inside the vehicle at the time. Police say there is currently no serial number available for the firearm. CCTV footage reviewed by investigators shows a person approaching the vehicle around 3 a.m. that morning. The individual is described as a white male wearing a black ball cap, black long-sleeve shirt, black pants and white running shoes. At this stage, police stress the person is not a suspect but rather someone who may have information useful to the investigation. While the incident itself took only moments, investigators say the consequences are significant, particularly given the theft of a firearm from a residential street. Police are now asking anyone who may have seen suspicious activity in the area overnight or who recognizes the individual in the picture to come forward. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Nanaimo RCMP non-emergency line at 250-754-2345.
