Merritt RCMP have yet to issue a warrant for the arrest of a person they suspect stole a Ski-Doo and pickup truck in January.
The investigation continues despite Merritt RCMP having obtained footage of what they believe to be the suspect in possession of the stolen snowmobile and truck the night of Jan. 22.
RCMP Const. Tracy Dunsmore told the Herald police are still trying to prove the suspect’s identity.
“There’s a little bit of legwork to do,” Dunsmore said.
RCMP Cpl. Derrick Francis told the Herald police need to touch base with the Crown in order to determine if the footage is of high enough quality and of a direct enough angle of the face to positively identify the person in question.
“In this case the surveillance — even though those of us that know this person can say that’s the person, and that’s the way [he] move and that’s similar clothing to what [he was] wearing — the person never really looks directly into the camera,” Francis said.
Until police can verify the man’s identity, charges are not being recommended to the Crown for approval.
The snowmobile was reported stolen the morning of Jan. 23 from a residence on Clapperton Avenue.
Police obtained footage from a nearby business that appeared to show a male suspect rummaging through vehicles on the property.
This suspect fit the description of a person believed to have stolen a pickup truck from a house party he attended in the Bench area earlier that night.
The suspect is said to have been spotted on camera driving the truck with a snowmobile in the back later that night.
“When it comes to surveillance cameras the courts want it to be 100 per cent for sure it’s that person,” Francis said.
Anyone with any information regarding this file is asked to contact the Merritt RCMP at 250-378-4262 or Crimestoppers at 1-800-222-8477.
