A 25 year-old Duncan man faces up to 43 charges after what is being described as a one-man crime spree in Maple Bay on June 8.
The as yet unidentified man has been in custody since last Thursday awaiting a final say on dozens of recommended charges relating to theft of property, including vehicles and boats, break-ins to private residences and motor vehicle act offences spanning numerous RCMP jurisdictions.
The North Cowichan/Duncan RCMP’s street crime unit has been working since last week to identify related investigations they believe this man is responsible for.
“It is imperative that a comprehensive picture be drawn regarding the extent of his illegal activity prior to his appearance with a judge on June 20,” said RCMP Cpl. Colin Cook, the officer in charge of the unit.
What appeared to be a single case of a theft of a boat on June 8 very quickly mushroomed into multiple thefts of boats and from boats docked on Maple Bay.
At approximately noon that day, North Cowichan/Duncan RCMP responded to a call for service from a Genoa Road resident reporting that her landlord’s boat had just been stolen from his dock on Maple Bay.
The boat owner borrowed a second boat and gave chase.
He was able to catch up with the man responsible for the theft and confronted him, but the man quickly left the scene.
The RCMP’s West Coast marine section was in the area at the time and was able to lend a valuable hand in the investigation along with the assistance of the RCMP police dog services.
Together with the help of some accommodating neighbours, the dog handler and his canine partner Herc were able to hitch a ride across the water and within a very short time, the suspect was in custody.