NANAIMO CAR THIEVES 'TAKE THE BAIT'

AREA NEAR BC FERRIES
TARGETED FOR CAR THEFTS

Two adult males are in custody after the unsuccessful theft of a bait car in Nanaimo.

Nanaimo RCMP were alerted to a Bait car activation at approximately 11:30pm in the area of Otter Way located near the BC Ferries Departure Bay landing,after deploying the vehicle only two hours prior.This area has had a significant number of thefts from vehicle and theft of vehicles in recent weeks and for that reason a Bait car was deployed.

The stolen vehicle was driven by the suspects for approximately ten minutes and once in an area that poised a minimal risk to the public, the vehicle engine was remotely shut down and the vehicle came to a rolling stop.The suspects then fled on foot and with the assistance of a police dog the two were arrested and taken into custody.

The suspects ages 27 and 18 were both arrested for possession of stolen property and theft over $5000 relating to the theft of the vehicle. The 27 year old male was also in possession of a machete and a significant amount of crack cocaine and faces weapons and drug charges.

The 18 year old was in possession of a weapon commonly referred to as a “rock in a sock”, which consists of a weighted object wrapped in a sock. He was found to be in possession of a small quantity of marihuana and also faces weapons and drug charges. The two males both residents of Nanaimo, with extensive criminal records were held in custody and and will appear before before a Justice of the Peace today.