Date: Sep 2, 2015

File # 15-40450

Victoria, BC – A Victoria man is in custody after a theatre manager and PSD Bondo teamed up to capture a thief who had just attempted to make off with a Fringe show’s earnings.

Just before 7 p.m. last night, officers received a call reporting a “grab and dash” style robbery at a theatre in the 1400-block of Quadra Street. The caller, who is the house manager of the theatre there, had been working the door for the fringe show when a man approached, grabbed the money bag for the night’s show, and took off. Undaunted, the house manager gave chase and called 911.

The house manager chased the suspect until she lost sight of him on Balmoral Road. During the chase she observed the suspect stash some money in his pockets, and drop other money at the corner of Pandora Avenue and Vancouver Street.

At that same time, another witness called to report observing a man crawl into a parkade in the 900-block of Balmoral Road. This man matched the suspect’s description, and VicPD K9 Bondo and his handler joined the search. PSD Bondo was deployed in the parking garage and quickly located the suspect hiding in the bed of a pickup truck in the parkade. The suspect was taken into custody without incident and some of the stolen money was recovered.



PSD Bondo in training

Officers were later able to recover an additional small portion of the stolen money that was dropped near the corner of Pandora Avenue and Vancouver Street. Nearly half of the funds taken remain outstanding.

One charge of theft below $5000 is being recommended against the suspect, who is well-known to police and who remains in custody.