Vernon RCMP received help and are looking for more following an incident involving a prolific offender Monday.
The Vernon detachment was called at 6:15 a.m. Monday to a report of a suspect out on Okanagan Lake near Lakeshore Road.
The man was believed to be illegally in possession of a Zodiac boat towing what was believed to be three stolen kayaks.
“Our officers would like to thank the good citizen in the area who took our officers out on the water in his boat so they could determine where the suspect went with the kayaks,” said Vernon RCMP spokesperson Gord Molendyk.
“The suspect was able to make it to shore and he took off in the bush before the officers could catch up with him.”
The police service dog team was called in and the 40-year-old suspect was located a short time later.
“He gave up only after the dog made contact with him,” said Molendyk.
When he was arrested, the man was found to be in possession of numerous suspected stolen items, break-and-enter instruments, as well as a prohibited weapon (bear spray).
Some of the stolen property found on the suspect included a Samsung Galaxy S4 that has been linked to a theft from a motor vehicle reported at 4 a.m. Monday.
The investigators believe the suspect hid two of the kayaks in the area from Kin Beach south to Old Stamp Mill Road. One is blue and the second is yellow.
The investigators are asking anyone in the North end of Okanagan Lake that had a Zodiac boat or kayaks stolen to please call them at 250-545-7171.
Molendyk said the suspect is a prolific offender out of Kelowna, and will be held for court as officers continue to investigate.
