Vancouver Island residents armed with garden tools detain break-in suspect

A group of Nanaimo residents armed themselves with garden tools to corner a suspected burglar while they waited for police.

The suspect is accused of breaking into a home on Yellow Point Road at 3 p.m. on Jan. 25, according to a release from the Nanaimo RCMP.

A homeowner reported coming face to face with an intruder in his house. There was a struggle between them, the suspect sustained a head injury and lost a significant amount of blood but managed to flee.

Officers along with a police dog responded and searched the area but had no luck finding the suspect.

Three hours later, at 6 p.m., multiple 9-1-1 calls came in.

“Neighbours in the 1700 block of Woobank Road, some two kilometre away, were reporting that a man with dried blood on him, had tried to break into a residence,” the RCMP release reads. “This time, several neighbours came together and brandishing a variety of garden tools, prevented the individual from fleeing.”

RCMP said the search for the man ended peacefully as officers responded to the car port where the suspect was cornered and arrested him for both break and enters.

“We are pleased that the suspect was eventually located and that none of the homeowners were injured while trying to subdue him,” Const. Gary O’Brien said in the release.

No charges have been laid however the investigation is ongoing.

The suspect has no fixed address. He also had outstanding warrants.

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