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Thieves crash stolen truck into liquor store

Nanaimo: Thieves caught by police dog after crashing stolen truck into liquor store.

Thieves crashed a stolen truck into the front of a private liquor store during a smash and grab that ended in their arrests.

Events unfolded at about 11:20 p.m. Tuesday after two men left a stolen truck embedded in the front of the Chase River Liquor Store at 1273 Island Highway and ran off with a quantity of liquor.

Police said video from the store showed two men, wearing hoodies and masks, jump out of the truck steal some beer and run off. The truck was found severely damaged and the store front demolished.

Const. Clayton Wurzinger and his police service dog Boomer arrived on scene just before midnight and tracked the suspects through dense bush and over steep embankments and a muddy terrain.

The track eventually ended at approximately 12:30 a.m. Wednesday when Wurzinger and Boomer come upon two wet, exhausted and cold suspects.

Wurzinger and Boomer also managed to find pieces of clothing discarded by the suspects in three different locations.

Jesse Wayne Tweet, 19, and Justin Terrance Patrick, 18, were arrested and later charged with breaking and entering and taking a vehicle without consent.

Both teens were held in custody and appeared in Nanaimo provincial court Wednesday.