A group of resident in a Nanaimo neighbourhood armed with gardening tools cornered a home intruder that had fled police a few hours earlier.
The incident began at around 3 p.m. on Saturday January 25th, when a homeowner in the 2400-block of Yellow Point Road came face to face with an intruder in his home.
Police say they received numerous 911 calls after a struggle ensued during which time the suspect sustained a head injury, and lost a significant amount of blood.
Despite the injury, the suspect manage to flee the home. Responding officers, along with a K9 police dog, searched the area but were unable to locate the suspect.
A few hours later, the same suspect attempted to break into another home, this time in the in the 1700-block of Woobank Road, which is about 2 km away for the first home.
Cedar neighbourhood residents spotted the suspect and called 911 reporting that “a man with dried blood on him, had tried to break into a residence.”
The group of of neighbours armed themselves with gardening tools and cornered the suspect and prevented him from fleeing before the police could arrive.
The 34-year-old suspect, who is of no fixed address, was transported to the Nanaimo hospital and treated for his injuries. Once medically cleared, he was transported to the Nanaimo RCMP detachment where he was held overnight.
Police say the the man also had four outstanding warrants from North Cowichan.
“We are pleased that the suspect was eventually located and that none of the home owners were injured while trying to subdue him,” Const. Gary O’Brien of the Nanaimo RCMP.
No charges have been laid in the break and enter.
