A targeted home invasion early this morning (Monday, Sept. 16) has resulted in the arrest of three suspects, who allegedly used a firearm, body armour and bandanas to rob a Langford home.
At 1:37 a.m. RCMP received a call from a resident who thought a home invasion might be taking place in his neighbourhood, Wild Ridge Way in Langford. The caller had seen a vehicle being driven with no headlights on and noticed some people running away from a neighbour's house dressed in black with their faces covered.
The older-model red Toyota Tercel had just left the area, the caller said.
Police headed out and while on the way to the scene, at 1:46 a.m., an officer spotted a car matching the description near Kelly and Sooke roads. The car was pulled over and with the assistance of a VicPD canine crew officers arrested the three occupants of the car in a high-risk takedown arrest.
The three males remain in police custody. Two are 18 years old and are from Colwood and Langford. The other is a youth, 17 years old, and is from Victoria. All have had prior run ins with the police.
One of the males had on body armour when arrested and another had a hunting knife. A pellet handgun and an extendable baton were also in the vehicle.
Through their investigation, police discovered one of the residents of the robbed home had been outside when the thieves arrived. She was told to get down on the ground and she saw the suspects had a gun. The invaders then entered the basement suite of the house. No one else was home.
Police say the woman is fine, but shaken up.
"When people show up with faces covered and direct and demand people take certain activity, it causes trauma and some anxiety," said West Shore RCMP spokesperson Cpl. Kathy Rochlitz.
The suspects stole a large amount of property from the suite, including cash, jewellery and electronics, before taking off.
All three males face possible charges of possession of a weapon for dangerous purpose, robbery, break and enter with intent, possession of property obtained by crime, possession of body armour and wearing a disguise with intent.
It's still not known why the suite was targeted and police say the residence isn't one they've encountered before.
In a potentially related call, at 5:30 a.m. the same morning, police were called out to the corner of Painter and Metchosin roads in Colwood. A resident had found some items near the side of the road including a sawed-off shotgun, bandanas and a toque.
Police can't say for sure if the items are related to the home invasion, but say it's highly likely.
Home invasions are not unheard of in the West Shore, Rochlitz said, but they do happen. She estimated the last one was likely around four months ago.
"(We are) truly appreciative of the citizen who called to report the situation to us," Rochlitz said. "Their information helped us locate these three males quickly and without incident."