Salt Spring Island RCMP are looking for a pair of suspects who stole a pickup truck containing a compound bow and 24 arrows, and a .22-calibre rifle at the Long Harbour terminal on Salt Spring Island, about 7 p.m on Tuesday.
Police say the man and woman entered six unlocked vehicles, including the 2015 Ford F150, which had the keys inside and was driven from the lot. It was later recovered by police near the BC Ferries Fulford Terminal. The large black plastic case containing the compound bow and the rifle were missing from the truck.
With the assistance of BC Ferries, it was determined that the pair of suspects disembarked as foot passengers at Swartz Bay terminal in Sidney at 7:50 pm on Tuesday, then boarded a ferry bound for Tsawwassen, arriving there at 10:40 p.m.
Surveillance footage released by BC Ferries shows two people on the ferry carrying a large black compound bow case.
“Anytime that firearms fall into the wrong hands, it is of concern to police. Along with investigating the pair of suspects in this theft, officers are also investigating the apparent unsecured storage of the firearms prior to their theft,” states Cpl. Darren Lagan of the Salt Spring Island RCMP. “Islanders are reminded to secure their vehicles and remove their keys, to prevent becoming the victim of theft.”
The male suspect is described as white, short hair with a mohawk strip, about six feet tall with an athletic build. He was wearing a light blue jacket over a navy coloured hooded sweatshirt and salmon coloured pants with white running shoes.
The female suspect is described as having a fair complexion, long dark coloured hair, and about five-foot-two. She was wearing a dark jacket over a blue coloured hooded sweatshirt, light blue jeans, black running shoes with pink laces.
Salt Spring Island RCMP have notified Lower Mainland Police agencies of this theft, and the last known location of the suspects.
Anyone with information on the identity of the pair is asked to contact the Salt Spring Island RCMP at 250-537-5555, or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477)
