Three men were arrested at gunpoint early this morning after police say they burst into a Langford home in what West Shore RCMP believe was a targeted home invasion.
Around 1:37 a.m. three teens, dressed in black, wearing masks and armed with a gun, drove into a quiet residential cul de sac on Wild Ridge Way and forced their way into a basement suite, telling the female resident to “get down,” said RCMP spokeswoman Cpl. Kathy Rochlitz said. Police said one of the men was wearing body armour.
“The victim advised police that the suspects had a gun,” Rochlitz said.
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A resident of the street who witnessed the incident said he saw a red Toyota Tercel park outside of 883 Wild Ridge Way. Two men went inside and the other remained behind the wheel of the car, he said.
The father of two did not want to give his name because he feared for his safety.
“It wasn’t random, they went straight to that house,” the witness said.
He said within 45 seconds the two men came running out with backpacks and the car took off. Rochlitz said the men made off with cash, jewelry and electronics.
The female victim came running out to the street, crying, and said she’d been robbed. The witness called West Shore RCMP.
The victim’s boyfriend, who also lives in the suite, was not home at the time, Rochlitz said.
Patrol officers and a Victoria police canine unit flooded the area and saw the suspect vehicle at 1:46 a.m. at Kelly Road and Sooke Road, Rochlitz said. Police drew their guns and conducted a high-risk take down.
“One of the males had a hunting knife on his person and a pellet hand gun and an extendable baton were also located as part of our investigation,” Rochlitz said.
The men surrendered and police have recovered the stolen goods.
Two 18-year-olds, one from Colwood and one from Langford, and a 17-year-old from Victoria remain in police custody and face charges of possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose, robbery, break and enter with intent, possession of stolen property and wearing a disguise with intent.
All men have prior history with police. Rochlitz said police are still investigating the motive of the crime.
Around 5:30 a.m., a resident near Painter Road and Metchosin Road alerted police that he found a sawed off shotgun, a bandana and a toque. Police are investigating whether the men threw those items out of the car as they fled.
The victim’s boyfriend, who also lives in the suite, was home this morning, but appeared visibly shaken. He said he was out getting food when the robbery occurred.
The man, who only gave his first name as Steven, said he doesn’t know why his suite would be targeted.
“Nothing like this has ever happened to me. I don’t have a criminal record, I have no problems with anybody,” he said.
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