A White Rock resident is proud he helped prevent his neighbour鈥檚 catalytic converter from being stolen Monday evening.

When he got home from working on set on a TV show late Monday, close to 11 p.m., Alfred Anderson, 76, noticed a man near his neighbour鈥檚 car as he was parking his own vehicle.

Having had the catalytic converter stolen from his own 2002 Honda Odyssey three times in the past year-and-a-half, he suspected something was off.

鈥淚 could see a mechanic鈥檚 jack sticking out,鈥� Anderson said Thursday.

鈥淭he guy ran away up the hill once I pulled up 鈥� I guess he was getting ready to get under the car.鈥�

Staying in his car because he hadn鈥檛 seen where the man went, Anderson called the RCMP right away and, while he was telling police the details, the man walked back past Anderson to a different vehicle and drove away, he said.

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鈥淚鈥檓 76 years old. I didn鈥檛 want to go running after him 鈥� you never know if they have a gun or anything.鈥�

White Rock RCMP Sgt. Rob Dixon agreed civilians should never try to physically engage with a potential suspect who may be attempting to commit a crime.

鈥淵ou never know what they might have. You never know what state they鈥檙e in,鈥� he said.

鈥淎lways call us. Always call 911.鈥�

White Rock RCMP have an excellent response time when crime is reported, he noted.

Anderson鈥檚 call came in at 11:02 p.m. on Monday night.

鈥淲e had a member on scene by 11:06 p.m.鈥�

While the suspect had already made his getaway, Dixon said people should still report such incidents to police, so they鈥檙e aware it happened.

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鈥淲e always encourage people to report 鈥� it can help us build data, (like) what types of cars are being targeted in what neighbourhoods,鈥� said Dixon.

Anderson is glad he reported it to RCMP, as it鈥檚 never pleasant to find you鈥檝e been the victim of a crime.

鈥淚鈥檓 glad I could help. Especially at this time of year. It鈥檚 bad at any time of year, but especially now,鈥� he said.

鈥淚 think if people see something, they should say something.鈥�

tricia.weel@peacearchnews.com
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