A truck stolen in a break-and-enter on 9th Avenue on Jan. 20 was found on fire less than a week later, Mission RCMP say.
According to the detachment’s weekly “Community Connection”, officers discovered the vehicle ablaze shortly before 5 a.m. on Jan. 26 on Farms Road in Hatzic.
Police say one of the firearms stolen during the break-and-enter was also located nearby.
“The truck had clearly been set on fire intentionally,” Mission RCMP said in the release.
An investigation is ongoing and those with information are urged to contact Mission RCMP at 604-826-7161.
The vehicle fire was one of 296 calls for service attended by Mission RCMP from Jan. 22 to 28.
Charges are being recommended for a man who was taken into custody on Jan. 22 following a shoplifting incident.
A loss prevention officer from a retail store along Lougheed Highway reported that a man with a shaved head and muscular build entered the store and ran out with around $300 in clothing, sunglasses and cosmetics.
At a nearby business, Mission RCMP responded to an alarm a few hours later. A hole was cut in a chain link fence and a man was inside the office.
Police say the man tried to run but officers took him into custody and confirmed him to be the same person responsible for the shoplifting.
Meanwhile, a work van was stolen from Lee Street in Mission on Jan. 24. RCMP say in the morning, the owner started the van and went inside. When he came back, the van was gone. Police found the work van a few hours later near Westview Avenue.
“Drivers are reminded that ‘warm-up thefts’ are common during the colder months and thieves regularly target vehicles idling in driveways during the early morning hours. Even if you lock your vehicle doors when you return inside, it can still only take a minute for someone to get into your vehicle and drive away, and the safest option is not to leave a running vehicle unattended,” Mission RCMP said.
The same day, a black Honda Accord was stolen from Vancouver and found in Deroche.
A location-tracking device on the vehicle showed it at a Deroche gas station. While following up, Mission RCMP found someone rummaging around the vehicle.
After Mission RCMP told the man he was under arrest, police say he tried to run. However, the man was arrested for possession of stolen property and failing to comply with his existing release conditions from a previous offence.
READ MORE: Firearms, truck stolen from Mission residence in break-in