Police are recommending break and entry charges against a Campbell River couple who allegedly broke into a Nanoose Bay home under the guise of a gutter cleaning company.
According to a news release issued by Oceanside RCMP, at approximately 10:30 a.m. on Nov. 4 a Nanoose Bay homeowner was alerted by a co-worker driving by the house along Morello Road that there was a suspicious vehicle in the driveway.
"The homeowner immediately drove home and found an unfamiliar vehicle with a female inside parked in her driveway," states the release. "When questioned, the female claimed that her male friend was in the backyard of the house completing a maintenance estimate."
According to police, a man then emerged and stated that he was in the back yard doing "an estimate for gutter cleaning."
When the property owner asked the man where his tools were, or if he had a business card, the man allegedly responded by getting into the car with his female counterpart and fleeing the area.
The homeowner reportedly discovered the side door to her residence had been pried open, several rooms had been rummaged through and there were possessions missing.
The Oceanside RCMP General Investigation Section narrowed the suspects down and the victim in this case was able to identify a 37-year-old male and 29-year-old female accomplice, both Campbell River residents.
"This serves as a great example of neighbours looking out for one another and reporting suspicious behaviour," said Oceanside RCMP Cpl. Jesse Foreman.
Oceanside Community Safety Volunteers have set up a website with local crime watch reports updated on a regular basis spanning the Parksville Qualicum Beach area. For more information visit www.oceansidecsv.org.