A 25-year-old man from Vancouver Island is in custody after allegedly going on a six-day, island-hopping crime spree. RCMP on Vancouver Island, Salt Spring Island, the Sunshine Coast and Bowen Island were kept busy investigating a string of thefts and property crime that occurred between June 29 and July 3.
Around 8:30 p.m. on June 29, the male reportedly stole a 16-foot fibreglass boat from the Cobble Hill area of Vancouver Island. Police later observed the male in a boat near Cowichan Bay; however, the male saw police and quickly fled in another boat. Police are still investigating as to whether that boat was stolen as well.
Three days later, on July 2, the same male allegedly pulled into a dock in Sechelt aboard a 27-foot Boston Whaler, which had recently been stolen from Salt Spring Island, and was later found to be full of stolen property. The male abandoned the boat and stole a car parked nearby.
On July 3, the male is believed to have left the car in Gibsons and stolen a 22-foot Boston Whaler from a marina in Gibsons, which he took to Keats Island. Once there, he abandoned the Boston Whaler and stole a 19-foot Campion Explorer boat. He took that boat to Bowen Island, where he crashed into some rocks, injuring himself and causing significant damage to the boat.
Bowen Island RCMP arrested the suspect who was found inside a residence he broke into after making it ashore. A small quantity of a substance suspected to be methamphetamine was located in the male’s possession. He was taken to hospital for the injuries he sustained when he crashed the boat, and was later transported to cells in the North Vancouver RCMP detachment, where he remained in custody awaiting a bail hearing.
“This was an unbelievable string of events that would more likely be seen in a James Bond film than around the coastal communities of British Columbia,” said Const. Harrison Mohr with Sunshine Coast RCMP. “Unfortunately the impact of this man’s actions are real. Numerous property owners are now dealing with recovering their stolen property and adding up the extensive damage done.”
RCMP continue to investigate the crime spree, and ask anyone with more information to contact Sunshine Coast RCMP at 604-885-2266, file #2016-4026.
