An alert citizen received commendation from the Abbotsford Police Department on Tuesday (Jan. 18) for his role in the arrest of two break-in suspects on Sept. 5, 2010.
On that day, Richard Rayner noticed two unfamiliar people inside the secured RV parking lot of the complex where he lived.
The two had backed a rental van up to a travel trailer, lifted the trailer stairs and removed the tire covers. They then began to remove the hitch lock in order to tow the trailer out of the compound, but noticed that Rayner had seen them.
They quickly fled in their van.
Rayner was suspicious of the two because he noticed that the chain securing the RV compound had been cut. He then followed the suspects from Abbotsford to Mission, giving updates to police over his cellphone.
The pair were stopped by Mission RCMP and held for Abbotsford Police. Break-in tools were located in the vehicle.
Rayner was commended at the monthly police board meeting for his “observations, clear thinking and quick response,” and for assisting the police in their goal to make Abbotsford “the safest city in British Columbia.”
The two suspects were charged and are still before the courts.