For the second time this summer, an item set for auction to raise money for Cops for Cancer Tour de Rock, which supports childhood cancer research, has been stolen.

This time it was the rickshaw that sat in front of Ten Thousand Villages in Broadmead Village for more than 12 years.

It was decided earlier this year that the rickshaw, originally from Bangladesh, would be donated to Tour de Rock, and before the Sept. 8 weekend, the pedal-powered cart was moved from the front to the rear of the store.

It was locked up, but the lock was breached and thieves made off with the ornate rickshaw, sometime before Sept. 12.

"It's made out of steel, like rebar, and it was hand-fabricated. It was very ornate, decorated in a South Asian-type theme," said Saanich police Sgt. Dean Jantzen. "It's a fairly large thing, and I guess it's quite unwieldy."

Police are asking anyone who may have seen the ornate, colourful rickshaw after it had been taken, to call police.

"A rickshaw is not something you can miss," Jantzen added.

The rickshaw was expected to net $1,000 at an Oct. 3 auction.

On Aug. 24, a thief stole a gift basket of hair products from a Tour de Rock fundraiser at Pearkes Recreation Centre. A man was arrested the next day in possession of the items.

Anyone with information on the missing rickshaw is asked to call police at 250-475-4321. If you wish to make a donation to Tour de Rock, visit . Follow Tour de Rock news at .

kslavin@saanichnews.com