A former Top Ten most wanted car thief who was is well known in Langley has been arrested again in Surrey by the Integrated Municipal Auto Crime Team (IMPACT).
On Jan. 13, IMPACT investigators allegedly arrested Richard James Mantler, 43, of no fixed address, in a stolen Ford F150 in Surrey.
Police had identified the stolen vehicle by the license plate being associated to a theft and assault, three shoplifting incidents, theft of liquor from a liquor store, and a hit and run collision, said IMPACT.
When arrested Mantler had two outstanding warrants, one for assault out of Surrey and for breaching his probation out of Langley.
In November 2013, he was sentenced to six months in jail after pleading guilty to dangerous operation of a motor vehicle and obstruction. The charges relate to an incident that took place in Langley City on July 25 where he drove a stolen car directly into a police vehicle.
“Chronic offenders such as Mantler are a top priority for our investigators,” says Cpl. Rob Stephenson, spokesperson for IMPACT.