A 911 caller helped lead New West police to an alleged car thief.
Shortly before 11 p.m. on Monday, Oct. 17, New Westminster police officers were dispatched to the 300 block of Hospital Street for a report of a male breaking into a vehicle.
“The complainant provided updates on the male through 911, and, upon arrival, officers located the male inside another vehicle in the area,” said a New Westminster Police Department press release. “This individual was subsequently arrested without incident.”
New Westminster police believe the alleged suspect had attempted to steal both vehicles.
“We want to commend the complainant on their call to 911” said NWPD spokesperson Sgt. Justine Thom. “This arrest truly highlights the importance of reporting suspicious behaviour to police as well as providing as much information as possible.”
Kevin Vanderwal, a 45-year-old Maple Ridge resident, has been charged with two counts of theft of motor vehicle and two counts of fail to comply.
In an email to the Record, Thom said “fail to comply with order” exists when an individual has previously been arrested and released through the criminal justice system and the individual is bound by certain conditions.
