If you steal a vehicle, don’t fall asleep in it!

LAST week on Friday (February 27) at 5:50 p.m., a citizen called the Abbotsford Police Department to report a male passed out behind the wheel of a Honda Civic in the 33500 block of McCallum Place. Police arrived on scene and confirmed the vehicle as stolen.

They then woke the suspect up and arrested him. A search of the vehicle resulted in locating several stolen documents and identification connected to recent thefts and break-and-enter incidents.

Christopher James Mitchell, 26, of Burnaby has now been charged with possession of stolen property over $5000, possession of break in instruments, possession of identity documents, operating a motor vehicle while disqualified and breach of court order.

 

IN another Abbotsford incident involving a stolen car, on Tuesday at 9:50 p.m., APD Crime Reduction Unit officers located a Ford F150 pick-up truck travelling in the area of Mt. Lehman Road and Downes Road.  The license plate on the vehicle did not match and officers followed it until the driver pulled into a gas station at 200th Street and 86th Avenue in Langley.

Officers checked the Vehicle Identification Number on the vehicle and confirmed it as stolen.  The driver was arrested and a subsequent search of the vehicle located a loaded 9mm handgun on the floor in the back seat of the truck.  Stolen credit cards and identification were also located in the vehicle.

Colby Dean Romanchych, 33, with connections to Abbotsford, Mission and New Westminster, has now been charged with possession of stolen property over $5000, possession of prohibited / restricted firearm, unlawfully occupying a vehicle with a firearm, possession of identity documents and possession of stolen credit cards.