A vehicle security system proved its worth after a truck theft in Metchosin early Monday morning.
A Metchosin man called 9-1-1 at 4:30 a.m. on Oct. 24 to report his Chevrolet pickup was stolen from his house. He also called his “OnStar” security service, which remotely killed the truck engine as it was driving along Sooke Road near the Sooke-Metchosin border.
The two male thieves fled into a crawl space under a nearby house, said RCMP Cpl. Kathy Rochlitz. With help from Victoria police dog services, West Shore RCMP officers quickly found where the men were hiding. They surrendered voluntarily.
Police found stolen property linked to the men, including various pieces of ID, mail, financial documents, crystal meth, suspected GHB, vehicle keys, tools, electronics and gun ammunition.
Derek Fast, 25, and Michael Desbiens, 26, of Langford, face charges of theft under $5,000, theft over $5,000, possession of stolen property, possession of drugs and breach of court ordered conditions. RCMP may recommend more charges as potentially stolen items are catalogued.
Both men are well known to police through the region and have lengthy criminal records. They are in custody and are set to appear in Western Communities Courthouse on Thursday.
editor@goldstreamgazette.com