Oceanside RCMP officers arrested two people on Thursday, Jan. 23, who were found inside a truck which had been reported stolen earlier in the week. (File Photo/NanaimoNewsNOW)

By NanaimoNewsNOW Staff

charges laid

‘Quite rare for us:’ Wembley Mall arrests cap busy week for stolen vehicles in Oceanside

Jan 24, 2025 | 1:52 PM

PARKSVILLE — A man well known to police through multiple breaches of probation and release conditions is back in custody after being allegedly found in a stolen vehicle.

Oceanside RCMP officers were called to Wembley Mall in Parksville around 9:20 on Thursday, Jan. 23 after reports of a man collapsing inside a pickup truck with a woman attempting to help him.

Sgt. Shane Worth said alert onlookers felt the situation was suspicious.

“She was trying to get him into the driver’s seat, helping him, but he was falling down, and eventually ended up in the driver’s seat. We attended to the parking lot and located the man…and his female passenger in the truck.”

The vehicle, a 2016 Ford F-150 matched the description of one stolen from a downtown parkade earlier in the week with officers quickly confirming it was the same vehicle.

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Officers then searched the man, identified as 23-year-old Gage Lindberg-Larsen and found multiple items.

“He was found upon his arrest to be in possession of knives, suspected drugs as well as some other property that was believed to have been stolen during the earlier break and enter to the underground [parking garage] where the truck was stolen from.”

Both were arrested and are currently remaining in police custody.

Lindberg-Larsen faces two charges of possession of stolen property, as well as two counts of breach of probation and a single charge of possession of stolen identification.

His prior criminal history includes a weapons charge from July 2024 and numerous breaches of probation orders.

The unnamed 36-year-old female companion was not charged in connection to the stolen truck but appeared in court on Friday, Jan. 24 on an unrelated matter.

Worth said the Oceanside detachment has had three reports of stolen vehicles this week alone, something which he said was unusual.

Vehicles taken from properties in Coombs and near Cameron Lake were located nearby and returned to their owners.

“We deal with all sorts of crime in Oceanside like any other jurisdiction, but our crime rate is low. This is the first time I’ve seen this in three years that we’ve had three stolen cars in one week, so it is quite rare for us.”

Worth said they’re not sure if the other two vehicles are linked to the stolen truck found at Wembley Mall on Thursday, but their investigation continues.

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