A Nanaimo family is sa国际传媒榯raumatizedsa国际传媒� after a man broke into their home, pepper-sprayed two teenage girls and made off with electronics and other items.
According to Nanaimo RCMP, whosa国际传媒檝e characterized the incident as a home invasion, the culprit broke into the house on the 5200 block of Lost Lake Road, in north Nanaimo, shortly before 3 p.m. Monday, March 14.
sa国际传媒淭wo teenage sisters were at home at the time when an individual, who was wearing a balaclava and was dressed in camouflage, burst into the home and hit them with bear spray,sa国际传媒� said reserve Const. Gary Osa国际传媒橞rien, Nanaimo RCMP spokesman.
The sisters sa国际传媒渨iselysa国际传媒� ran from the home to a nearby residence. Police officers were on scene within minutes and brought a police dog, but could not locate the suspect. RCMP say it appears the suspect entered the home through an unlocked door.
sa国际传媒淎 hockey bag was missing from the home, with its contents emptied out, which was likely used to carry away some stolen electronics,sa国际传媒� Osa国际传媒橞rien said.
The girlssa国际传媒� mother Veva Galdames said the sa国际传媒渉orrendoussa国际传媒� attack happened at the girlssa国际传媒� fathersa国际传媒檚 home, where the sisters were staying on their first day of spring break. Their dad had gone to work and the girls were unaware someone was in the basement stealing items before he came upstairs.
sa国际传媒淚tsa国际传媒檚 like out of a movie,sa国际传媒� Galdames said. sa国际传媒淲e cansa国际传媒檛 even believe this happened to them. They were just sitting watching TV in the back, on the first day of spring break and, all of sudden, somebody appears in the living room and just sprays them with the bear spray.sa国际传媒�
Galdames said the suspect walked into the room so confidently the girls first thought he was a plumber or service technician there to repair something in the house before they were attacked.
sa国际传媒淢y young one, she was the one that got it first because she was the first to be seen when he came around the corner,sa国际传媒� Galdames said. sa国际传媒淪he went to scream and he shot her right in the mouth with the bear spray, so she couldnsa国际传媒檛 breathe. She still has that taste. Shesa国际传媒檚 gagging the whole time, trying to get some air, trying to escape.sa国际传媒�
The suspect ripped the younger girlsa国际传媒檚 laptop computer from her lap when he sprayed her and then sprayed her sister. The girls, both blinded by the bear spray, tried to hold their eyes open and escape the house.
sa国际传媒淭he young one runs across the back yard, across the lawn, and she fell. Shesa国际传媒檚 in bare feet with pyjamas,sa国际传媒� Galdames said. sa国际传媒淪he tried to grab moss to wipe her face, so she could get the rest of the way to the neighboursa国际传媒檚 house. This is just absolutely horrendous, somebody could do this to a kid sa国际传媒� He knew they were there. He was down in the basement for quite some time stealing and going through bags and whatever before going upstairs.sa国际传媒�
Galdames said the suspect also took a desktop computer and a collection of vintage skateboard and snowboard stickers, among other items, and she figures he had a vehicle to quickly make off with everything.
sa国际传媒淲esa国际传媒檙e OK. The girls had a rough sleep through the night,sa国际传媒� Galdames said. sa国际传媒淚 didnsa国际传媒檛 sleep much sa国际传媒� theysa国际传媒檙e with me at my house now sa国际传媒� All the doors and windows and everything are quadruple checked now sa国际传媒� wesa国际传媒檙e as safe as we can feel.sa国际传媒�
Galdames said if the culprit is caught shesa国际传媒檚 going to press sa国际传媒渁s many charges as I can press against this guysa国际传媒� and she hopes he will be charged to the fullest extent possible.
Paramedics were called to the home after the incident and treated the girls for the lingering effects of the bear spray.
sa国际传媒淥ther than that they were fine, but very traumatized by the ordeal,sa国际传媒� Osa国际传媒橞rien said. sa国际传媒淭his was a very brazen incident that took place in the middle of the afternoon, which actually may assist in our investigation because someone may have seen the suspect either entering or leaving the home. We also have some really vigilant Block Watches in the area who will obviously assist police with their investigation.sa国际传媒�
Nanaimo RCMP want to speak with any possible witness and are also requisition any dash cam or home security camera video taken between 2:30 and 3:30 p.m. Monday for anyone matching the description of the suspect or anyone matching the description of the suspect or vehicles that appeared out of place.
Anyone with information on the incident is asked to call the Nanaimo RCMP non-emergency line at 250-754-2345 and quote file No. 2022-8688.
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