Off-duty cop goes for gas in Cache Creek, pursues car thief instead

One opportunistic car thief didn’t realize he had stolen an idling car right in front of an off-duty RCMP officer.

The Burnaby RCMP officer was visiting the Cache Creek area when he pulled into a gas station to fuel up just before 8 p.m. on Feb. 26. There, he watched as a man ran after a silver Kia Rio after it was allegedly stolen by a thief.

The vehicle quickly left the area, and the officer pursued the vehicle which was reportedly driving dangerously, weaving in and out of traffic and at times driving in the oncoming lanes on the highway. He gave updates as to the vehicle’s location to dispatchers, who then sent frontline officers to apprehend the suspect.

Clinton RCMP deployed a tire deflation device, and the stolen vehicle slowed to a stop. The suspect was arrested without further incident. The 34-year-old Williams Lake man was taken into custody and released the next day. He faces criminal charges and is scheduled to appear in court on Apr. 30.

“RCMP officers not only work and live, but often travel through communities across our beautiful province. This is just one example of how we are always ready to respond to emergencies. The off-duty officer’s situational awareness, and collaboration with our police dispatchers and Clinton RCMP officers resulted in the safe arrest during a situation which had the potential to harm someone,” says Cpl. Jesse O’Donaghey, spokesperson for the RCMP Southeast District in a media release.

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