September theft in Vancouver of about 150 wigs made for kids with cancer appears to have been solved

NEWS 1130 learns a man has been caught in connection to the theft of nearly 150 wigs made for kids with cancer

VANCOUVER (NEWS 1130) — A man suspected of stealing 150 wigs destined for children with cancer at BC Children’s Hospital has apparently been caught by police, NEWS 1130 has learned.

More details from investigators are expected early next week.

I've learned a man has been caught in connection to the theft of nearly 150 wigs destined for kids w/cancer. Theft happened in Sept. The #Vancouver store involved says not all the wigs have been recovered. Details expected next week from VPD. BG: https://t.co/AyJZ5LVbJq — Sonia Aslam (@SoniaSAslam) March 2, 2019

The wigs were stolen from a shop on West Broadway on Sept. 7, 2018. Some of the wigs were recovered, found in a bag in the hallway of a Downtown Eastside hotel.

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Frances Rae, who works at the store, says an officer contacted them recently to let them know someone had been caught which, she adds, came as a huge relief.

She says they struggled to make wigs for those in need following the theft, but the support of the community made all the difference.

“Little kids were phoning me going, ‘We just hope that you’re okay. We’ll wait for our wigs.’ I’m like, really?” she says. “People were really nice.”

She says they had to re-make the wigs, but the “outpouring of love” from the community meant new people came in to bring donations.

“Tons of people came in after they saw us on the news, what happened, and donated hair, so we were able to start over again and make these kids wigs for them,” she says.

WATCH: Cancer patients forced to wait after custom wigs stolen

Costs for wigs made from human hair start at $2,200 each.

Rae says they ran over time on some of the orders, and a lot of children didn’t get their wigs until December because it takes about two months to make each one.

“We felt so bad that those kids’ wigs were taken and a horrible thing to do. We were just really happy that someone was caught.”

She adds they’ve beefed up security at the store in hopes this never happens again. “We have a pretty good video surveillance [system] in here now — cameras all over the place. We have a big 24-hour video in the back so we can see anything that’s going on and we can watch it from wherever we are.”

Police previously said they would be recommending charges of break and enter, and theft would be recommended against the suspect or suspects.

– With files from Hana Mae Nassar, Monika Gul