Two 16-year-olds from Edmonton are facing charges after they were caught stealing from vehicles and evading police in Merritt.
The young man and woman first came onto Merritt RCMP’s radar on April 9. Staff from a local hotel called the police because the teens were loitering in the lobby and then became verbally abusive and fled the building when RCMP were called.
Later that night, a local resident called police after they spotted a male and female rummaging through the victim’s vehicle.
“The female subject was reported to have produced a knife before the pair fled from the area on foot,” said Staff Sgt. Lorne Wood.
Two days later, on April 11, the same pair was spotted by the victim whose car was broken into.
Another call was made to the Merritt detachment and the teens were captured attempting to evade the police on foot.
Once they had the young offenders, police found a vehicle stolen out of Edmonton nearby with property belonging to the accused.
“A search of the subjects’ belongings and the stolen vehicle revealed that the pair had entered several vehicles in the surrounding area stealing loose change, mail, medication and other items,” Wood said.
He added the male suspect had a significant criminal record and a Canada-wide warrant for his arrest, so he was taken into custody.
Given the female’s lack of criminal record she was released on conditions.
Currently the pair are charged with theft of possession of stolen property, but Wood said Crown counsel is reviewing all the facts of the case and several other charges are expected.
