A man already awaiting trial after being caught by police with a stolen boat in Parksville, was caught again, this time with a stolen boat motor, in Nanaimo.
Wayne Allen Orr, 44, was arrested Feb. 24 at Nanaimo Shipyard, located at 1040 Stewart Ave.
Orr was charged with one count of breaching a court order that he stay away from marinas, plus one count of possession of stolen property for allegedly being in possession of a stolen boat motor at the time of his arrest. He was released and is scheduled to appear in Nanaimo provincial court March 20.
Mounties in Parksville arrested Orr eight days prior, when he was allegedly caught with a boat that was stolen in July.
Orr is scheduled to appear in court May 12 to face one count possession of stolen property from the arrest in Parksville.
Const. Gary O’Brien, Nanaimo RCMP spokesman, said with this year’s boating season fast approaching, a marine communications group was set up in Nanaimo in early February to share information about crime on Nanaimo’s waterfront.
“This is a communications group whereas all concerned parties that deal with marine issues – the Port Authority, Harbour Watch, the RCMP, Newcastle Island, Protection Island, any block watches or neighbourhood watches that are water-based – are all provided information on thefts, crime trends and police alerts,” O’Brien said.
Group members will educate themselves about security and try to help lower the number of thefts from boats and local marinas.
Harbour Watch, an RCMP-based volunteer anti-crime operation, will also continue patrolling the waterfront.
For anyone who wants to learn more about Harbour Watch, please call Gord Nixon, community policing coordinator, at 250-753-3777.
Anyone with information about any kind of criminal activity in Nanaimo is asked to call Nanaimo RCMP at 250-754-2345 or contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or online at www.nanaimocrimestoppers.com.
