Suspects believed to have used weapons, may be tied to more car-parts thefts: Vancouver police
Police believe the suspects charged with one count each of theft are linked to several more similar crimes in Vancouver.
The Vancouver Police Department announced Wednesday that two men had been charged with theft and mischief in relation to the thefts of catalytic converters.
It's an ongoing problem in the region. A loophole allows these parts to be sold at scrapyards without identification, unlike with regulated metals. https://bc.ctvnews.ca/gap-in-metal-recycling-law-allows-criminals-to-sell-catalytic-converters-without-id-as-reports-of-thefts-surge-1.5509330
While police didn't give an update Wednesday into the total known thefts of the specific car part this year, there had been 195 reports by the end of June, more than double the number reported in the same six months of 2020.
In a news release announcing the latest arrests, police said they'd been notified of 18 catalytic converter thefts over the last seven days in the city, and police in other jurisdictions have also reported increases.
The investigation into the men who were recently charged, 27-year-old Tyson Fust and 50-year-old Richard Mantler, began back in July.
Police called them "prolific" suspects, and said they believe the men are involved in several thefts, though they've each only been charged with one.
According to the VPD, the investigation is ongoing, and detectives have "hopes" to connect their suspects with other incidents.
As has been the case in some of the reported thefts, the men whose arrests were just announced are accused of more than just taking the car parts.
"In addition to the thefts, investigative techniques revealed these two suspects were also stealing licence plates and using weapons, such as bear spray, during the commission of the offences," Const. Tania Visintin said in a news release.
None of the allegations has been proven in court.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Freeland previews omnibus budget bill, proposed capital gains tax change left out
Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland will be tabling yet another omnibus bill to pass a sweeping range of measures promised in her April 16 federal budget, though left out of the legislation is the government's proposed capital gains tax change.
Man dies after suffering cardiac arrest while waiting in ER, widow wants investigation
When an ambulance took David Lippert to the hospital in March of 2023, the 68-year-old Kitchener, Ont., executive was hoping to find out why he was feeling weak and unable to walk. Some 24 hours later, he was found unresponsive in the ER.
Baby, grandparents among 4 people killed in wrong-way police chase on Ontario's Hwy. 401
A police chase which started with a liquor store robbery in Bowmanville Monday night ended in tragedy some 20 minutes later when a suspect fleeing police entered Highway 401 in the wrong direction and caused a pileup which killed an infant and the child's grandparents, as well as the suspect, investigators say.
Air Canada walks back new seat selection policy change after backlash
Air Canada has paused a new seat selection fee for travellers booked on the lowest fares just days after implementing it.
McGill requests 'police assistance' over pro-Palestinian encampment
McGill University says it has 'requested police assistance' about the pro-Palestinian encampment on its lower field.
Judge raises threat of jail in hush money trial as he holds Trump in contempt, fines him US$9,000
Donald Trump was held in contempt of court Tuesday and fined US$9,000 for repeatedly violating a gag order that barred him from making public statements about witnesses, jurors and some others connected to his New York hush money case. And if he does it again, the judge warned, he could be jailed.
Court upholds Milwaukee police officer's firing for posting racist memes after Sterling Brown arrest
The Wisconsin Supreme Court ruled Tuesday that a former Milwaukee police officer was properly fired for posting racist memes related to the arrest of an NBA player that triggered a public outcry.
Video captures deadly wrong-way police chase on Highway 401 in Ontario
A new video has surfaced showing a vehicle being pursued by police in the wrong direction on Highway 401 moments prior to a fatal crash that killed four people, including an infant and their grandparents.
New cancer treatment approved, but not everyone thinks it's what's best for patients
A new cancer treatment recently approved in Canada promises to cut treatment time down to just minutes, but experts have differing opinions on whether it's what's best for patients.