A suspect is in jail and about $7,000 worth of stolen kitchen appliances have been recovered after Nanaimo Mounties pulled over an overdue U-Haul truck last week.
The arrest happened Thursday when Nanaimo RCMP Street Crimes Unit members pulled over and searched the five-ton truck, which contained cell phones, Canada Post keys, a box cutter and a small quantity of illegal drugs, prompting investigators to arrest the driver Shawn Jason Wheldon, 40.
Wheldon was then linked to a storage locker where police found a stolen commercial oven, a soup warmer, speakers, a coffee maker and a tile cutter – all items police allege were stolen a break-and-enter at Quiznos restaurant on Terminal Avenue on Feb. 22.
The truck was returned to its owner and Wheldon was held in custody over the weekend following a judicial bail hearing Friday.
Wheldon pleaded guilty on Monday in Nanaimo provincial court to charges of break-and-enter and possession of stolen property and was sentenced to 16 months in prison.