Mounties on Vancouver Island say thieves are making off with batteries from railway control boxes, causing an estimated 800-thousand dollars in damages and replacement costs.
Police say the island-wide problem stretches from Langford to Comox Valley and multiple thefts have occurred between August to October.
Investigators believe the thefts would most likely involve multiple people, and the suspects may be passing themselves off as construction workers.
Constable Gary O’Brien of the Nanaimo R-C-M-P says in most cases, there are no witnesses or C-C-T-V in the area to assist with the investigation.