A suspected case of intoxication appears to have been a motivating factor behind a decision by two men to make off with a heavy metal sign that hangs outside a downtown Nanaimo clothing store.

The theft and getaway was captured by the security camera at NYLA Fresh Thread.

Leon Drzewiecki, who owns the store on Commercial Street, said the incident happened in the wee hours of April 8, but releasing the footage was delayed because it needed to be edited before being posted on social media.

The video depicts two apparently intoxicated men who take an interest in the sign as they make their way past the front of the store shortly after 2 a.m. One man hoists his buddy up on his shoulders to unfasten the sign. After couple of attempts, the sign comes loose, but its unexpected weight causes one to tumble off the otherB次元官网网址檚 shoulders onto the sidewalk, smacking his face onto the sign. After collecting themselves, they run off with the sign and disappear around the corner at Bastion Street.

B次元官网网址淭he two obviously very intoxicated guys walk by and some drunk logic comes into play and they decide theyB次元官网网址檙e going to get on each othersB次元官网网址� shoulders,B次元官网网址� Drzewiecki said. B次元官网网址淭he videoB次元官网网址檚 about 15 minutes long because they start getting it, they get one side off and they actually gave up and they left and then about seven minutes later they came back to undo the rest of the sign. Then karma hits instantly as the guy doesnB次元官网网址檛 realize itB次元官网网址檚 over 100 pounds and he just drops straight to the ground.B次元官网网址�

Drzewiecki said the sign bearing the storeB次元官网网址檚 logo has hung above the sidewalk since 2014. It was built for him by a friend who normally builds off-road vehicles, and itB次元官网网址檚 crafted out of a layer of stainless steel, two layers of mild steel and a layer of aluminum. Drzewiecki said the heavy metal sign was built to last and has stood up well to the elements.

The sheer weight of the sign required both men to carry it and, while they did make a quick getaway, they didnB次元官网网址檛 get far. The sign was returned that same day by two Port of Nanaimo employees who found it ditched on the waterfront barely a block away.

B次元官网网址淭hey walked it about a block around the corner down by the waterfront somewhere and just gave up because it was just too heavy to carry on,B次元官网网址� Drzewiecki said.

As for damage costs, he said it cost about $50 to replace the shackles that held the sign.

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 slightly bent and thereB次元官网网址檚 definitely some scratches, but I find that just adds character to it,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淓verything in my store is B次元官网网址� I like a lot of fixtures and fittings and breathing new life into old stuff.B次元官网网址�

The culprits, he said, were lucky to escape their escapade uninjured because if the sign had struck either of them in the head, the injury could have been life-altering.

Neither of the men involved have been identified B次元官网网址� Drzewiecki never filed a complaint with the RCMP because he got his sign back the same day and he didnB次元官网网址檛 see the sense in adding to their workload B次元官网网址� but as of Monday, April 22, he estimated the video of the theft has been viewed by about 60,000 people on social media, so itB次元官网网址檚 only a matter of time before someone recognizes them.

B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檝e watched the video hundreds of times and I get a giggle every time I see it,B次元官网网址� he said.

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