A man who eluded a police dog in a forested area near Youbou is a suspect in string of crimes on Vancouver Island.
The man was in a Chevrolet Silverado pickup June 16 at a Youbou automotive centre when a Lake Cowichan RCMP officer became suspicious that the truck’s licence plate was partially obscured with spray paint.
A check revealed the truck was stolen. The officer entered the vehicle on the passenger side to make an arrest, but the man ran off and could not be found.
The truck had been reported stolen from Deep Bay on June 11. That same day, a truck matching its description was seen driving away from a Qualicum Beach paint store where an attempted break-in had taken place.
On June 15, truck matching the description was reported to have damaged two other vehicles in a hit-and-run in Ladysmith.
The truck was also believed to be linked to a theft from a vehicle that day in Chemainus. A credit card was taken and used at Chemainus gas station.
The suspect is described as white and five-foot-eight with a thin build and short hair. He was last seen wearing a green Element T-shirt, camouflage shorts, black socks, white running shoes, a grey and black Hockey Canada cap. He had a bandanna over his face and was wearing aviator sunglasses.
Police ask anyone with information to call the Oceanside RCMP at 250-258-6111.
