One man from Surrey and another from Langley are facing several charges after a haul of stolen equipment was discovered in the back of a truck last month.
Surrey RCMP say they were alerted to a "suspicious" pickup truck in an underground parking lot near 99 Avenue and 138 Street on Feb. 17.
When offers arrived, they determined the vehicle was stolen and saw multiple power generators and other construction equipment in the back of the truck. Surveillance was established and police tracked the driver and his passenger to another location, where they were arrested.
Mounties were later notified of a theft that had taken place at a construction site in the Guildford area, where it's believed the property was stolen.
Langley's Derrick Sutton, 39, has been charged with theft of a motor vehicle, two counts of possession of stolen property, possession of a controlled substance and possession of break-in instruments.
Kevin Bisang, a 46-year-old from Surrey, faces charges of possession of stolen property and taking a vehicle without consent.
Surrey RCMP say they arrested 52 people for auto theft in January and February, resulting in 175 charges.
“Property crime is largely driven by auto crime and stolen vehicles are often the starting point for further crimes and investigation. Many times a stolen vehicle will be the first offence in a string of others committed that could present additional risks to the public,” says Surrey RCMP Cpl. Bert Paquet. “That’s why it is so important for the public to report all suspicious activity including suspicious vehicles. Residents are our eyes and ears in the community.”
For more information on auto crime and how to protect yourself from it, visit http://bit.ly/1w8xXBE