Several police forces have teamed up and are seeking help from the public to find two men suspected in a “substantial” number of boat thefts across southern Vancouver Island.
Sunshine Coast RCMP says it’s assisting Saanich Police, North Saanich RCMP and West Coast Marine Services to locate 33-year-old Thomas Cudworth and 23-year-old Jack Chisholm.
RCMP tells CHEK News both have active warrants for their arrest and are believed to be responsible for a string of boat, marine equipment and kayak thefts since last year.
Cudworth was previously arrested in May after police found him on board a sailboat that had run out of fuel and has since been observed not abiding by court-imposed conditions.
Since his arrest, Saanich Police says it has received “multiple complaints” of criminal activity by a small group living on boats in the area, including theft, mischief, unlawful activity and noise complaints contrary to local bylaws.
READ MORE: Man previously arrested for boat theft issued warrants for failing to abide conditions
In a warning to boaters, police say prime target locations for thieves have included marinas, sheds, seasonal properties and anchored boats, with most thefts happening late at night or early in the morning.
People are reminded to lock up any valuables, record serial numbers and take photos of their items, among other tips like taking note of any unique markings, scratches or modifications to equipment.
“Due to the seasonal nature of boating, it makes it difficult for property owners to isolate a specific date and time of thefts if they have occurred,” RCMP said.
“Often, the thieves will use a dinghy to access marinas and properties from the water. Serial numbers are removed from stolen motors, and the stolen property may be stashed along the shoreline for pick up later.”
RCMP says Chisholm was spotted exiting an IGA store in Wilson Creek near Sechelt on Sunday, but he “bolted” into bushes when seeing police. Cudworth is also believed to be in the area.
Anyone with information regarding the pair’s whereabouts is asked to call Sunshine Coast RCMP at 604-885-2266 or to stay anonymous, tipsters can reach out to Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.
CHEK News
