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Seven charged in jewelry heist

Three people have been sentenced with four more still before the courts after a jewelry theft in July.

Three people have been sentenced with four more still before the courts after a jewelry theft in July.

At about 4:25 a.m. on July 15 Campbell River RCMP responded to a report of a break and enter at the business in the 800 block of the Island Highway.

The front door was smashed and pulled out using tow chains and a truck, Crown counsel Bruce Goddard told the court last Monday.

Three men seen by witnesses had their faces covered, and stole two garbage cans worth of property, mostly jewelry. The estimated value of loss from the business is $19,282.

The men fled the scene and collided with another vehicle at 5th and Thulin, then moved the stolen property to a different vehicle and took off.

The other vehicle was later found by RCMP at City Hall.

A few days after the break and enter a Campbell River Collateral employee identified some jewelry at local pawn shops.

On Sept. 12 Arthur Nelson pleaded guilty to the break and enter of Campbell River Collateral.

He was sentenced to 318 days in jail, a DNA order, two years of probation, and a $50 victim surcharge.

Ellis plead guilty to possession of property obtained by crime in relation to the break and enter of Campbell River Collateral, and was sentenced Sept. 16 to 130 days in jail and two years of probation.

Bruce Nelson plead guilty to possession of property obtained by crime.

He was sentenced on Monday to two years of probation and a $500 fine.

Goddard said Bruce and Ellis were identified in the pawning of the jewelry but were likely not involved with the break and enter.

“We have evidence that there were three young males involved in the break and enter. We know that Bruce Nelson and Tanya Ellis don’t fit that description,” said Goddard, as Bruce is 51-years-old and Ellis is a woman.

Teri Wells is also charged in connection to the break in and will appear before court on Oct. 17.

With the assistance of Naniamo RCMP, Eddie Nelson, Gordon Nelson, and Alexis Forbes were arrested in Nanaimo in relation to the theft.