With more than four decades in the chocolate industry, Charlie Sigvardsen thought he had seen it all.
But the owner of Charlie's Chocolate Factory at 3746 Canada Way got a surprise this past weekend.
"We got broken into by the same guy who broke in here six months ago," said the energetic Sigvardsen. "From our surveillance video, we're pretty sure it's the same guy. This time, he paced up and down in the parking lot for some time before he broke in."
The first time the culprit broke in, he knew where the store's monetary float was stored, so he got away with a couple hundred dollars. This time, with Sigvardsen's staff tightening their security, the float was safely locked away.
"We can see on the tape that he tries to go to the same spot where the float was before, but we moved it," said Sigvardsen.
But that didn't deter the thief, who stole two silver bowls that Sigvardsen holds particularly dear to his heart.
"These are bowls won over the years from our organization (Retail Confectioners International)," said Sigvardsen. "They're meaningful to us."
The bowls are presented to organizations that receive the most votes in a contest where companies put forth their most innovative ideas and concepts.
"He got away with some chocolate as well, but all I care about is the bowls," said Sigvardsen.
Sigvardsen has talked to the police and offered up the surveillance video for their review.
He believes the thief made his getaway in a dark-coloured van.
r Anyone who knows where the bowls are is asked to contact the Burnaby RCMP at 604-294-7922 or Charlie's Chocolate Factory at 604-4378221. www.twitter.com/AlfieLau
