What seemed like a smooth escape for two Lower Mainland truck thieves was abruptly halted when Nanaimo RCMP intervened.
The culprits, a 27-year-old man and a 23-year-old woman, were arrested within hours, found in possession of the stolen truck.
The incident unfolded around 2:30 a.m. on Friday, March 22nd, in Comox, when a homeowner alerted RCMP that his 2021 F150 pickup had vanished from his driveway.
Thanks to his home security system, he witnessed the thieves driving off with his vehicle. Nanaimo RCMP responded to the call but unfortunately couldn’t locate the stolen truck or the perpetrators.
However, this morning at around 7 a.m., the truck owner contacted the Nanaimo RCMP, revealing that his truck’s GPS was pinpointing its location to a residence on the 1100 block of Stewart Avenue in Nanaimo.
RCMP surrounded the location where they located both the stolen truck and the individuals behind the theft.
Westin Ferguson, 23, and Justice Mckay-Saul, 27, both from the Lower Mainland, were apprehended without incident.
Subsequent investigations led to charges against Ferguson for theft of the truck, possession of the stolen vehicle, and possession of prohibited weapons (brass knuckles).
Meanwhile, Mckay-Saul faces charges solely for possession of the stolen truck. Both were granted release from custody under specific conditions, awaiting their court appearance slated for April 9th, at Nanaimo Provincial Court.
The truck owner made his way to Nanaimo later that same day to pick up his truck.
“Needless to say, he was extremely grateful for the quick arrest and to have his truck recovered and undamaged. He also wished to congratulate the officers for a job well done,” said R/Cst Gary O’Brien Nanaimo RCMP.
