Police are on the look-out for a white Mazda SUV after its owner was allegedly pepper-sprayed while trying to sell the vehicle on Craigslist.
Around 10 p.m. last Thursday, a 39-year-old Richmond man was found by Mounties in the 7000-block of Turnill Street – near to Garden City Road and Granville Avenue - suffering from injuries consistent with being pepper-sprayed.
According to police, the man, who’s an auto dealer, placed an advert on Craigslist to sell a 2009 Mazda Tribute SUV and had arranged to meet a potential buyer in Richmond.
But when the meet took place and the key was handed over to the buyer for him to have a look at the vehicle, the victim alleges he was pepper sprayed several times.
It was then that the alleged thief took off with the Mazda and was last seen heading north on Turnill Street.
The victim was later treated for pepper spray contamination and is expected to recover.
No arrest has been made and the vehicle has yet to be recovered.
The suspect is described as Caucasian, 5’8″ tall, in his 20s with brown curly hair and a dark jacket with the word “Security” on the back, a dark hoody underneath, and a reflective cross safety vest.
The missing vehicle is a white 2009 Mazda Tribute GT SUV, with black wheels, dark grey leather interior with the headrests missing from the rear seats and the vehicle may still have the dealer BC Licence Plate starting with the sequence D649.
Anyone with information is asked to contact the Richmond RCMP or Crime Stoppers.
