A 23-year-old man remains in custody following a pair of recent vehicle break-ins in Parksville.
Oceanside RCMP reported that on April 18, two separate callers said their vehicles had been broken into in front of their residences on Cimarron Court in French Creek.
One of the victims had his wallet stolen from his vehicle. The victim immediately called his credit card company to notify them of the theft and they informed him that his card had just been used at a local gas station.
Officers attended the gas station and viewed the surveillance footage, identifying a suspect as Thomas Donald Chambers.
Officers then scoured the area and located a suspect in downtown Parksville. He attempted to flee on his bike. One officer gave chase and arrested him. Unfortunately, the officer broke his ankle while making the arrest.
Police reported that Chambers has been remanded in custody and will appear in Nanaimo provincial court again on April 30, with a number of charges proposed.
READ MORE: Oceanside RCMP arrest man with weapon, suspected illicit drugs
• Also on April 18, the Oceanside RCMP received a call from a man who was housesitting in Qualicum Beach. He arrived home shortly after 5 p.m., to discover that the rear patio door on the home had been forced open and there were items scattered everywhere. He then found thieves had stolen the homeowner’s vehicle that was parked in the garage.
When police canvassed the neighbours they made a discovery of interest. One of the neighbours had a suspicious-looking woman ring her doorbell at 3 p.m. When she answered the door, the woman asked the resident if she had seen her lost dog. It appears that the suspects were casing the area to determine what homes were unoccupied.
The following day, Nanaimo RCMP officers located the stolen vehicle and arrested two occupants, residents of Nanaimo, and well-known to police. Evidence is being gathered in hopes of connecting the suspects to the break, enter and theft.
— NEWS Staff
