During the morning of Aug. 31, Sunshine Coast RCMP responded to a report of several untied boats at Secret Cove Marina. It had been discovered that several boats had been rummaged through. Thieves had made away with a 9.9 HP Yamaha outboard motor, but failed to steal a second one. ?
Later that evening, police received several calls of two suspicious men at the marina. One witness, an off-duty Vancouver police officer, observed the men driving his neighbour’s four-metre skiff. His neighbour had been away on an Alaskan cruise. It was determined that the suspects were camped at the south end of Turnagain Island and in possession of both the boat and the boat motor stolen earlier. ??
Police responded and met with the witnesses, who were more than happy to aid the police in getting to the Island. Two officers attended the campsite by land, the other two waited at the shore on the boat for them to advance on the campsite. Police located the suspects, the stolen boat and motor in a small alcove, and secured the perimeter. The three water vessels that accompanied the police advanced to the cove and two Surrey men, 45 and 40, were taken into custody without incident. The property was recovered, along with used syringes, a quantity of marihuana and pills, several pieces of stolen identification and break-in instruments. ?
?"We couldn't have done it without the diligence and assistance from the residents of Secret Cove," Cpl. Steve Chubey of the Sunshine Coast RCMP said. "Once again, in as many weeks, they have come to our aid, bending over backwards in the name of the greater good". Chubey added that this is the second arrest this week of Surrey criminals committing property crimes on the Coast.
"Goes to show that the good residents of this Coast are watching, and our officers are responding", he said. ??
According to Chubey, the arrested men are career criminals with 48 criminal convictions combined dating back to 1984. They are facing charges of possession of stolen property over $5,000, possession of stolen property under $5,000, possession of break-in instruments, possession of a controlled substance and several breach-related charges. One of the men was also arrested for two outstanding warrants. ??
The Sunshine Coast RCMP would like to thank all those who helped in the recovery of the stolen property and the apprehension of the suspects.
— Submitted
