The gear was stolen along with the family’s truck. Abbotsford police allege the truck was stolen by 40-year-old prolific offender David Anderson.
The score is one-nil for Abbotsford police officers who traversed ice and snow to nab a prolific offender who allegedly stole a vehicle full of hockey gear.
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It was also a lucky score for the player, who received his gear back just in time to play in a tournament and help his team — the West Kelowna Warriors — earn a victory.
On Feb. 17, just before 7 a.m., police were called about a stolen Ford F450 in the Sumas Mountain area of Abbotsford. The vehicle was stolen earlier that morning from a Langley hotel parking lot.
It contained the hockey gear of the truck owner’s son. The family was visiting the Lower Mainland for a hockey tournament.
Officers arrived in the Sumas Mountain area and found the stolen truck stuck in the snow, but it was unoccupied, and the hockey gear was missing.
Abbotsford police say officers believed the suspects were still in the area so they began to search. While patrolling near the summit, officers found another vehicle believed to be connected to the stolen F450.
Both the police and suspect vehicles became stuck in the snow.
The driver of the suspect vehicle, 40-year-old prolific offender David Anderson, and passenger 33-year-old Kristina Wardell, fled on foot, according to police.
Investigators say following a lengthy and difficult foot chase on steep, icy terrain, officers arrested both Anderson and Wardell.
Anderson now faces 11 new charges, including theft of a motor vehicle, possession of stolen property, obstruction, breach of probation/release order, and driving while prohibited.
Wardell has been charged with theft of motor vehicle, possession of stolen property, and obstruction. Anderson was also arrested on several outstanding warrants at the time of his arrest.
The contents of the stolen F450, including the hockey gear, were found in the second vehicle and returned just in time for the hockey tournament.
In a news release Wednesday, Abbotsford police congratulated the Tier 2 West Kelowna Warriors on their win.