A City of Prince George employee and three co-workers saved the day after they spotted a possible stolen vehicle driving along Highway 97 through Prince George.
One of the workers had recognized the truck labelled as a recent stolen vehicle on social media.
Police say the co-workers worked together to compile detailed information about the vehicle which they provided to the Prince George RCMP.
The call came in on Jan. 17 at approximately 10 a.m., then general duty and plainclothes officers began to search for the truck and suspect driver.
Forty minutes later, the vehicle and driver were located on West Williams Road, just south of Red Rock B.C.
Police computer checks confirmed the pick-up truck was stolen from Mackenzie, B.C. and the license plate had been taken from Beaverlodge, Alberta.
At 10:40 a.m., police arrested the 31-year-old Tyler Lee Calliou of Dawson Creek, B.C., who was the lone occupant of the vehicle.
A search of the vehicle found a small quantity of heroin, cannabis, and open liquor.
A snowmobile in the back of the truck turned out to be recently from Dawson Creek.
Police say the Calliou was believed to be headed to Williams Lake.
Calliou was charged with two counts of possession of property obtained by crime under $5,000, three counts of failing to comply with recognizance, and possession of a controlled substance.
Police say the investigation is ongoing and further charges are possible.
Calliou was also issued a Cannabis Act violation ticket and a Liquor Control and Licensing Act violation ticket at the time of his arrest.
He was also found to have an outstanding warrant in Dawson Creek.
"This investigation demonstrates that stolen items such as snowmobiles can be easily transported through many communities in a short period of time, only to be resold on the black market," says Cpl. Craig Douglass, spokesperson for the Prince George RCMP in a news release.
"Please take the necessary steps to secure all property of value and exercise caution when purchasing second-hand items."
You can search serial numbers online.
Police say without the information provided by the City of Prince George employee and the three co-workers the suspect may not have been apprehended and the stolen property likely would not have been returned to the rightful owners.
If you have any information about this or any other property related Criminal offence, please contact the Prince George RCMP at 250-561-3300, or anonymously contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or online at www.pgcrimestoppers.bc.ca
