A Kamloops daycare's bus had its gas tank drilled overnight, which an employee discovered on the morning of May 16, 2022.

Image Credit: FACEBOOK/Lori Griffiths

Employees at a Kamloops daycare were shocked to find a stream of gasoline from their bus on Monday morning.

Kamloops Village Garden Early Learning Centre is the latest victim of gas thieves who drilled a hole in the bus's gas tank during the night.

"It was completely drained and there was a lot on the pavement and subsequently down the drain," daycare and preschool manager Malia Magnusson said.

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An employee found a tool for siphoning fuel nearby in the grass, but it appeared the gas thief gave up the attempt to syphon the gas and instead drilled a hole in the gas tank.

The bus is used to transport kids to and from school for both before and after school programs, Magnusson said. She said the bus is an essential service for families that rely on the daycare.

"Families rely on us to provide care to their children. We've been able to use our van, but it has forced the closure of some of our programs."

Gas spiked to more than $2 per litre this week in Kamloops, which likely correlates with the theft. In February and March this year, at least five gas thefts were reported to Kamloops RCMP.

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The daycare also reported the May 15 theft to Kamloops RCMP when they discovered the hole in the tank.

For the Village Garden daycare, it's the second time they've been targeted.

Magnusson said the gas tank on the daycare van was drilled in December, which took between two and three months to get repaired.

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She's not clear just how long it will take to be repaired, but between dealing with ICBC and waiting for parts to arrive and to actually get the repair completed, she's not anticipating it to return to service soon.

"This isn't just a random vehicle. It has really big consequences for families," Magnusson said.

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