West Shore Mounties are investigating after finding a stolen pickup truck loaded with stolen credit cards, identification, bear spray and a crossbow in Metchosin early Thursday morning.
Officers responded to a complaint of loud music coming from the parking lot of Albert Head Lagoon at around 1 a.m. and immediately recognized one of the vehicles, a white Ford F250, as one which police had been searching for since the previous day.
The pickup truck was identified as being involved in a March 1 theft in Sooke that involved stolen credit cards which were used to make several fraudulent purchases around the West Shore, according to police.
Officers also determined the pickup truck had been stolen in North Saanich Feb. 14.
The truck’s driver, identified as a 35-year-old Victoria man, was arrested for theft, possession of stolen property and failure to comply with probation orders as he had been bound by court ordered conditions to not possess crossbows.
In a statement, West Shore officer Const. Andrew Matheson said the encounter was a prime example of the uncertainty officers face in some situations.
“What began as a simple noise complaint quickly unfolded into a complex multi-jurisdictional investigation,” he said.
Police say the investigation remains ongoing with the possibility of additional charges being forwarded against the suspect, who was released with a promise to appear in court.
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