Man pepper-sprayed during home invasion near Winlaw
By Kyra Hoggan
The victim of a home invasion near Winlaw Friday morning is lucky he wasn’t hurt, according to RCMP Const. Jason Zilkie.
“At approximately 5:20 a.m. on the morning of Oct. 10, three unknown suspects broke into a residence situated in the 4500 block on Highway 6 near Winlaw,” Zilkie said. “A male who was sleeping in the residence was peppered sprayed by one of the suspects, but he did not require medical attention.”
Zilkie said he doesn’t think the victim and suspects knew each other – in fact, he said, it’s likely the suspects were as surprised as the man inside the house.
“It’s quite a rural area and the house is under construction,” he explained. “My person opinion is that they thought it would be empty and were hoping to steal some tools (or other goods left overnight by construction workers).”
At any rate, the doors were locked, so they forced entry and did get away with some power tools after pepper-spraying the occupant. Luckily, that man was able to make it to a relative’s residence to contact police, as there was no phone yet installed in the house.
“Investigators believe the three suspects departed in a vehicle of an unknown make and model that was parked in a pullout across the highway from the residence,” Zilkie said. “One of the suspects was wearing a distinctive yellow high visiblility vest at the time of the break in.”
He said it’s likely, given the early morning hour and the quiet rural area, that someone saw the offenders or a vehicle on surrounding highways, and urged anyone with any information to come forward.
“Police are requesting that anyone who may have observed these individuals or has information relating to the break-in call the Trail and Greater District RCMP @ 250-364-2566 or Crimestoppers at 1-800-222-8477 (1-800-222-TIPS).”
