RCMP plane tracks suspected thief from Okanagan to Kamloops

A man who allegedly stole $1,500 from a woman in Kelowna didn’t realize police were keeping an eye on him as he tried to escape to Kamloops.

The victim contacted the Kelowna RCMP about the stolen cash on May 29, according to a release from the RCMP. She said the $1,500 was taken by a male acquaintance who fled on a blue Suzuki motorcycle with no license plate and that he was believed to be headed for Kamloops.

After the report came in, officers on patrol spotted the motorcycle traveling at a high rate of speed on Highway 97 near Lake Country.

A marked police car tried to pull the motorcycle over but the rider ignored police and “continued to ride dangerously at extreme speeds,” the release says.

An RCMP plane was dispatched and followed the suspect from Westwold to Kamloops.

“RCMP air services was deployed to lessen the dangers to other motorists by not getting into a high-speed pursuit with this individual,” Kelowna RCMP spokesperson Const. Mike Della-Paolera said in the release.

Upon the supsect's arrival in Kamloops, he parked at a hotel and went inside, oblivious to the RCMP aircraft that was monitoring him, RCMP said.

Officers then attended the hotel and quickly arrested the rider without incident. He's now facing charges that include theft under $5,000, flight from police and dangerous operation of a motor vehicle.

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