A theft targeting a Nanaimo food bank has ended with the stolen items returned thanks to quick action from police and local recycling staff.

Loaves and Fishes reported the theft of two “mega bags” filled with donated bottles and cans from its Farquhar Street location early Thursday, Aug. 14.

The items, part of the charity’s Food for Empties program, were taken around 6 a.m. and reported to Nanaimo RCMP later that morning.

Executive director Peter Sinclair had already alerted the Regional Recycling Depot to be on the lookout for the stolen recyclables. Not long after, staff at the depot notified police that one of the suspects had arrived with the missing bags.

Officers responded immediately, arrested the suspect and recovered the stolen recyclables stashed nearby.

RCMP said that with

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