Two men were arrested after setting off an alarm while allegedly attempting to break into the B.C. Hydro compound in Qualicum Beach, Oceanside RCMP reported Monday.
Police were notified of an alarm at approximately 4:20 a.m. on Thursday, Feb. 1, at the B.C. Hydro compound at 271 Fern Rd. E. After arriving on the scene, officers located two men who had been spooked by the alarm walking away from the B.C. Hydro property. The suspects, a 38-year-old Parksville man and a 34-year-old Nanaimo man, were arrested for break-and-enter, RCMP said in a news release.
Following their arrests, the men were searched. The search revealed break-and-entry tools, a large knife and suspected drugs, police said. A police dog and handler were then called to attend and tracked the scent left by the suspects past a bag of tools and straight over a fence and into the compound, leaving police no doubt as to the pair’s involvement.
The suspects were held in custody and made their first appearance in Nanaimo Provincial Court later in the day. They were later released on court imposed conditions and returned to court to face charges on Tuesday, Feb. 6.