Update: Woman involved in dramatic stolen vehicle incident arrested

Staff Sgt. Mat Van Laer has released more information about the incident, stating that at roughly 12:30 p.m. today (Dec. 6), plainclothes police officers came across a vehicle that had been previously reported stolen from Surrey.

While attempting to arrest the female driver, she “made a daring escape” by driving the stolen vehicle into a number of parked vehicles.

Van Laer says the woman drove through the city with a seriously damaged vehicle, causing many people to report her vehicle and her location to police.

Officers found the vehicle abandoned in the parking lot of Canadian Tire in Dufferin. She fled and has not been located.

“This was the second incident involving a stolen vehicle on the same day for Kamloops RCMP. This really underscores the danger that these events represent,” Van Laer says. “We can never predict how these criminals will react, and we are very thankful that no one from the public was hurt today”.

Anyone with information is asked to call Kamloops RCMP or Crime Stoppers.

EARLIER: Kamloops RCMP are investigating after a stolen vehicle incident turned into a serious confrontation that spread across the city this afternoon (Dec. 6).

Kamloops RCMP Staff Sgt. Mat Van Laer says officers were trying to apprehend a woman driving a stolen vehicle, when she refused to comply with police, and sped away.

“Unfortunately when she did, she collided with a bunch of parked vehicles so she caused some significant damage to both people from the community here, but also her own vehicle,” he says. “So because of the damage to her vehicle, we’ve received a number of calls from the public – which we’re thankful for – regarding this weird looking vehicle travelling from the north shore to the south shore.”

Eventually, the vehicle was abandoned near the Canadian Tire in Dufferin, and Van Laer says an investigation is currently underway.

Witnesses reported seeing officers with guns drawn, however, Van Laer says this type of action is not uncommon in situations like this.

“Whenever we deal with a stolen vehicle, we don’t know the reasons why somebody has a stolen vehicle in the first place,” he explains. “So that’s just a precautionary measure that we would use in that circumstance.”

At this time, no injuries have been reported in relation to this incident and no arrests have been made.

Image Credit: RCMP Handout

by Dylana Kneeshaw

Update: Woman involved in dramatic stolen vehicle incident arrested

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