Two men were arrested as they attempted to steal gardening supplies in Parksville on Monday, March 5.
Oceanside RCMP were notified of suspicious goings-on by a man on his way to work at about 6:40 a.m. March 5. According to an Oceanside RCMP news release, the witness saw two men walking up the Port Alberni Highway to an awaiting vehicle parked under the Highway 19 overpass.
“The men appeared to have a new garden cart with new items on top that appeared to be from a local garden supply store,” reads the release. Buckerfields is located just north of the Highway 19 overpasses in the Alberni Highway in Parksville.
“The Oceanside RCMP arrived quickly and arrested the two men,” reads the release. They are 45-year-old Christopher Wade Raithby of Qualicum Beach, and 32-year-old Dwayne Louis Thomson of no fixed address.
The news release also stated that when police attended the garden supply store, video surveillance confirmed that men fitting the suspects’ description had broken into the business yard and stolen several items throughout the morning.
The stolen items were recovered, and a search of the suspects’ vehicle revealed other items, including televisions from an earlier break and entry from a separate business, according to the release.
The suspects made their first appearance in court on March 6 and are facing various charges, police said.
They were released from custody on a recognizance of bail and will make their next appearance on March 20.