Canucks Fan Catches Thief

Seconds before the Canucks scored their winning overtime goal Friday night, Jim, a resident of Nico Wynd Estates in South Surrey, was alerted by Mowgley the cat something was wrong. Mowgley was meowing plaintively at the sliding glass door. Jim looked out the window to see a stranger standing on his patio with a hand on Jim’s bike and a screwdriver and flashlight in hand.

The long haired, scraggy, skinny 45-ish year old backed away when he saw Jim step out the door. Jim knew exactly what the man was about to do as one of his bikes was stolen from the same spot just a few months ago, neighbours vehicles have recently been broken into, golf clubs stolen from garages and 2 vehicles keyed. The neighbourhood knows there has been a thief around but no one has caught him in the act.

Jim grabbed his baseball bat from his equipment bag by the door and his cell phone and confronted the ‘thief’, yelling at him, calling him a thief, scum and a crack-head while the man denied he was doing anything wrong and was “just looking for cigarette butts”. “Sure - that’s why you’re on MY patio, have your hand on my bike, with a flashlight and screwdriver in your posession”, Jim said.

The ‘thief’ started to back away and ran up the grassy slope toward the road. Jim dialed 911 and followed him. Of course, as is the correct procedure, the dispatcher said, “We will dispatch the police, wait there”. No way was Jim about to watch the ‘thief’ disappear into the bushes, only to come back again and again to harass the neighbourhood. He followed, at a safe distance, baseball bat and cell phone in hand, yelling at the ‘thief’ to stop and that he wouldn’t get away and the police were on their way.

The ‘thief’ took a shortcut through the bush onto Crescent Road with Jim close behind and into the Esso Gas Station, complaining to the attendant Jim was harrassing him. The attendant recognized Jim and kicked the “crack-head” out of the store. Jim phoned his girlfriend Crystal who was nearby in her car, telling her the story while following and conversing with the ‘thief’ the entire way.

By this time they had walked to King George Highway and the ‘thief’ sat down at the bus stop. Jim stood nearby, still telling him he wasn’t getting away and the ‘thief’ denying everything. The bus arrived, the ‘thief’ stepped aboard, paid his fare and Jim asked the bus driver to not drive away as he was on the phone with 911 and the police were on their way to arrest the man. The bus driver announced to the passengers they were not moving until the police arrived!

Meanwhile the ‘thief’ decided to get off the bus, with Jim following close behind. They walked to the Nicomeckl Bridge. Crystal was close by this time and saw two police cars, so pulled over to talk to them and ask if they were looking for Jim. They said yes, and where was he. Crystal phoned Jim and he said they were on the Nicomekl Bridge and the police raced toward them. When they arrived there was no sign of either of them and the police started searching the bushes and around the bridge. There were 2 police cars and a suburban with a big infrared light on top which allows the police to see people in the dark.

They couldn’t find Jim and asked Crystal to phone him again. He wasn’t answering his phone - it went directly to voice mail.

Crystal kept trying, the police kept searching and Jim was still following the thief, through the brush and blackberry vines, past an area littered with junk and old shopping carts (probably where the ‘thief’ lives). He answered his phone the next time and Crystal told the police they were at the Park and Ride on the King George Highway. The police asked Crystal how they’d recognize Jim. She replied, “He’s the one with the baseball bat and cell phone in hand!”

The ‘thief’ was well-known to the police and they charged him with trespassing after dark and the intent to steal, under $5,000.00. He now has a restraining order against him and is not allowed to enter Nico Wynd Estates or be within 3 kilometers, and… he walked away, with the police requiring him to attend the court date. This doesn’t sound like much punishment, but the police said it helps greatly to have Jim’s statement and if the man now violates the restraining order or misses his court date, they will have more cause to arrest him.

The police commended Jim for his perseverance and suggested he should be recruited to join the force. They also reminded him to pick up his baseball bat when he started to walk toward Crystal’s car to go home.

Great news - the Canucks won! Even better news - Jim did a great service to his community.