AT around 10 p.m. last Saturday (October 6), Richmond RCMP officers responded to a residence in the 6000-block of Maple Road for a disturbance in progress. The disturbance was due to a recent break-in to a residence. Multiple suspects, all wearing backpacks, allegedly fled from the scene on bicycles prior to the arrival of police.
Patrol officers from “Alpha Watch” quickly blanketed the area along with assistance from the Integrated Police Dog Services (IPDS).
One of the suspects was spotted near No. 3 Road and Penny Lane allegedly attempting to change clothing and alter his appearance. He fled after crashing his bicycle and was arrested near No. 3 Road and Lucas Road. The suspect is a 31-year-old male from Richmond and is well-known to police.
A second bicycle-riding suspect was tracked with the help of IPDS to a location near Bowcock Road and Moore Road. The 31-year-old female, also from Richmond, was arrested and is well-known to police.
Items that were recovered included stolen identity documents and break-in tools. Charges are pending.
“Police are urging the community to be mindful of all suspicious persons including cyclists at odd hours during the day and night. Many criminals are prohibited from driving vehicles and therefore use bicycles as means to get from point A and B. They typically use mountain bikes and can be found casing vehicles or residences for opportunities to commit crimes,” said Cpl. Dennis Hwang on Wednesday. “In this particular case, the police received excellent information from neighbours who were very attentive. They identified suspicious behaviour and were able to convey that information to our officers.”
He added: “Once again, the Richmond RCMP would like to remind the community to lock all doors and windows to their homes, ensure their garage is secure, and store vehicle keys out of sight. If you plan to be away for extended periods of time, please make sure your home is well-kept, well-lit, and properly maintained. Plan ahead and ensure someone checks your home regularly. If you observe suspicious behaviour, report it to police immediately.”