Police nab alleged burglars in the act
By Kyra Hoggan
Three out-of-town men are finding their visit to Castlegar yielded less than the promised Happily-Ever-After, after being arrested in what appears to have been a botched burglary attempt at Martech Electrical Systems Sunday.
According to RCMP Staff Sgt. Laurel Mathew, Martech had been the victim of break-and-enters twice already this month, on June 14 and 24, in which thieves targeted copper wire. Video surveillance from those events provided a view of the get-away vehicle, but no view of the suspects. At about 1:30 a.m. Sunday, an observant West Kootenay traffic officer saw a vehicle that looked very much like the one in the surveillance footage, parked near Martech. “He questioned the driver of the truck, who was not from Castlegar,” Mathew said. “Castlegar officers also attended, grew suspicious, and a decision was made at that point to attend Martech to ensure that the property was secure. “Upon entering and searching the property at Martech, officers came face-to-face with two adult males, who appeared to be in the process of stealing copper wire. These two males were taken into custody, as was the driver of the truck, whom police believe was the … third person involved in this crime. “Three males, ages 26, 37, and 43, all from the Penticton/Summerland area, were arrested for Theft Over $5,000 and held in police custody until their court appearance today. “Additional charges of carrying a concealed weapon and possession of drugs are also being pursued against the 26-year-old male. “This investigation is somewhat complex, and is continuing.”
