West Vancouver police recovered and returned a stolen car early Thursday morning before the victim even knew he’d been robbed.
During a routine overnight traffic stop on the Lions Gate Bridge, officers came by two suspicious-looking men in a Volkswagen Golf coming north over the bridge.
“The driver was unable to produce identification. Officers began to conduct further inquiries and it became evident neither male in the car knew much about the car including the correct name of the registered owner,” said Const. Jeff Palmer, West Vancouver police spokesman.
Officers rang up their colleagues at the Vancouver Police Department to go alert the owner who was in “complete surprise” at the midnight fiasco.
“The first they learned of their vehicle having been stolen was police officers knocking on their door asking if they had given permission for their vehicle to be in possession of anyone else,” Palmer said.
Police also found bags of what they believe to be stolen property in the car.
The driver, a 29-year-old Vancouver man, was released on promise to appear in court for charges at a later day. The passenger, a 32-year-old man of no fixed address was released with no charges, however the investigation continues, Palmer said.
Palmer couldn’t say what it was they were planning to do once they reached the North Shore.
“I guess it would be a fair supposition they weren’t on their way to do something good,” he said.
