A boat thief was cornered and caught in a well co-ordinated chase by police, volunteers and civilians Tuesday off the shores of Nanaimo.
About 4 a.m., a 1923 classic boat moored just off the 1500-block of Stewart Avenue at Anchorage Marina — one of about six marinas between Newcastle Island Marine Provincial Park and Protection Island — was stolen, said Nanaimo RCMP spokesman Const. Gary O’Brien.
A marina caretaker called police when he saw the boat break out of the harbour. An RCMP officer spotted the 35-foot boat and kept track of it with his binoculars, O’Brien said.
A reservist, who is a retired RCMP officer who operates the police rigid-hulled Zodiac anchored in the harbour, was on scene within about 15 minutes. He was joined on the Zodiac by an RCMP officer and a police dog, police said.
A containment area on land was set up while the Zodiac crept up on the stolen vessel.
In the final moments, police shone a spotlight on the thief and he was apprehended without incident, police said. The dog wasn’t needed.
It was a good use of resources and a great example of teamwork, O’Brien said.
When police boarded the boat, they discovered smoke billowing from the engine room. The engine was apparently blown as the thief attempted to escape.
A 41-year-old Vancouver man is in custody awaiting an appearance before a provincial court judge. He faces a charge of theft over $5,000.
The port authority took possession of the boat, which is estimated to be worth about $50,000.
