B.C. man tracks stolen pickup truck, then gets taken for a ride

A man was dragged by his own stolen truck for several blocks before managing to scramble into the truck bed and climb into the cab.

The truck was reportedly driven erratically through downtown, along a sidewalk and against traffic on Bay Street, possibly in an effort to dislodge the victim.

“It’s miraculous no one was hurt,” said Bowen Osoko, acting spokesman for the Victoria Police Department.

Police said the man had been in the truck outside his Green Street residence, near Royal Athletic Park, about 8 a.m. when he realized he had forgotten something. He returned to the home and left his motor running.

While inside, he heard the truck moving out of the driveway and went outside to see the vehicle being driven away. He then saw two reserve constables on foot patrol and asked for help.

The reserve constables called in the stolen truck and a description of the suspect before police officers arrived to take the victim’s report.

As officers searched for the truck, the victim and his partner looked around the neighbourhood and came across the vehicle a few blocks away on Mason Street.

The victim approached a man outside the truck sorting through tools that had been inside of it. He then saw another man with some of his property, but when he went to speak with him, the first man hopped in the truck and began to drive away.

At that point, the victim hurried toward his truck and made a grab for it.

The victim’s partner followed in her vehicle, and along the way the victim yelled at people for help and several 911 calls were made.

The suspect finally slowed down the truck and jumped out while it was still moving at the corner at Bay and Blanshard streets.

The victim, by that time in the truck bed, was able to climb to the cab and put the brakes on.

He then chased down the suspect, Osoko said. “He actually gets the suspect to the ground, then passersby come and help him.”

Victoria police would like to hear from anyone with information or with video of the incident. Call 250-995-7654 and select option 1.