For about a year, Chris Graham has kept a refrigerator full of eggs outside his accounting firm.
In addition to being president of Beacon Tax Services and a Central Saanich councillor, Graham and his mother raise about 200 chickens between their two farms, so by dropping $5 into a money box attached to the fridge, anyone can buy a dozen farm-fresh, brown eggs. But on Thursday night, eggs were not enough for some would-be thieves, who were after a money box attached to the fridge.
“It was secured to the freezer door and they took the whole freezer door off,” said Graham. “I think they bashed it off.”
Graham had emptied the money box on his way home from work, just 10 minutes before the thieves arrived, so they got no money.
“I even posted that there was a video camera, and they just didn’t seem to be aware of that,” he laughed. They did notice the camera at one point, Graham said, and “yet they still proceeded to go and do it. So they weren’t the brightest of criminals.”
He said that Sidney/North Saanich RCMP were “very responsive” and they came over right away when he called. An investigation is underway.
After checking his “egg book,” in which he records all his sales, he said his first theft was on Dec. 8, followed by a bigger theft around New Years Day, where about $65 was stolen. Then, he added a padlock and other security measures, and did not have any other thefts until Thursday night, when the whole freezer door was taken. The door is nowhere to be found, so Graham will have to find a new one.
“It’s more frustrating than angry, I would say. Especially with farming. There’s so much work involved in it,” said Graham.” People don’t really understand that there’s not a great deal of money in farming to start with and you see people stealing on top of that it really makes you wonder why you do any of it.”
Graham, however, is undeterred, and will keep selling his eggs.
“The vast majority of people in Sidney are very, very honest. It’s amazing how well the honour system works…” He paused. “…generally speaking.”
reporter@peninsulanewsreview.com
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