RCMP helicopter tracks fleeing shoplifters

KELOWNA – A pair of shoplifters were quickly brought to justice with the help of a police helicopter yesterday afternoon.

Just before 3 p.m. Kelowna RCMP received a report of someone shoplifting at the Orchard Park Mall at 2271 Harvey Avenue. It appears a man and a woman were working together, shoplifting throughout the mall and carrying their loot in a backpack.

They were then seen fleeing the mall on bicycles. That's when the RCMP helicopter, already in the area was redirected to help bring the suspects down.

The woman was tracked to Dilworth Drive and Enterprise Way and taken into custody. The man was tracked to McDonald's on Harvey Avenue where he abandoned his bike to take a taxi.

Police stopped the cab on Cooper Street and arrested the man for shoplifting.

The man had an outstanding warrant for breach of probation out of Cranbrook and is in custody. The woman may be charged with possession of stolen property and was released on a promise to appear in court at a later date.

The investigation continues.

To contact the reporter for this story, email Adam Proskiw at aproskiw@infotelnews.ca, call (250) 718-0428 or tweet @AdamProskiw.