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Kelowna  

Pilot's license returned

UPDATE MAY 6:

At the end of April we told you about a recently graduated pilot who was robbed and unable to work without his stolen license.

As it turns out this story has a happy ending as he contacted Castanet news Tuesday morning to let us know his items had been returned.

“Yesterday I got a random text saying "Hi, I have something that belongs to u”,” explained young pilot Darcy McVeigh.

“I nearly fell over, we worked out a place to meet and did the exchange.”

He says the man who met up with him knew exactly who had stolen the stuff and after reading the article on Castanet felt obliged to return the items to him.

“My entire flight bag with all licenses and ratings were returned along with my headset, basically everything except my wallet,” said McVeigh in relief.

McVeigh can now continue to look for work as a new pilot.


ORIGINAL STORY APRIL 27:

25-year-old newly graduated pilot, Darcy McVeigh, can no longer look for work after his pilot's license and other valuable goods were stolen from his truck Saturday night in Kelowna

His truck was parked in the above ground parking lot at Baron and Leckie and he believes the break in occurred between 11 p.m. and 6:30 a.m. Sunday morning.

“I got up this morning at 6:30 a.m. and was heading out and the first thing I see is that both my windows are smashed,” said McVeigh.

His front and rear windows were smashed and the thief or thieves made off with his wallet (containing credit cards, cash, and other important personal cards), his laptop, iPod, and most important his ground school flight bag which contained vital books, gadgets, his aviation headset and his license that he needs to fly.

“Without my pilot license in hand, I am not able to work,” said McVeigh in frustration. “I just graduated from the aviation program a few days ago and cannot wait the months and months it will take to process another license.”

He is hoping that the person who took these items will return the items that are of no value to them, no questions asked.

“I don't care to meet the person but if they could just give the bag back, put it back where they found it, it would make everything so much better.”

He doesn’t need his electronics or money back but desperately needs his aviation gear and pilots license so that he can look for work.

“You know my wallet was in there and they can take the cash but all I ask is if someone could have the heart to give back what they don't need. Take the cash and give back the other stuff,” said McVeigh.

His car insurance will replace the broken windows but everything else will have to be replaced.

Castanet did ask why such valuable items were left in his vehicle.

“I usually leave my flight stuff in the back seat, most do, that way when you wake up in the morning everything is all together,” said McVeigh. “There are probably three of four bags you need to take with you before you get on a plane and it is easier to keep it all together.”

His truck did have an alarm and it did apparently go off but McVeigh unfortunately did not hear it.

The Kelowna RCMP are investigating and you can call them with tips to Constable Arnold at 250-762-3300 x 5050. 

 

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