Richmond RCMP may be the first police force in Canada to have recovered a stolen Tesla electric vehicle with the help of the car’s mobile satellite application.
“It was very unique that someone was able to provide real time telemetry, and it was very accurate,” said Cpl. Dennis Hwang of the Richmond RCMP.
The car had been reported stolen by Katerina Pinkowski, who had been at a concert the night of Oct. 29.
“Coming back from a concert last night I didn’t find my Tesla in the parking lot. It’s a good thing Tesla has an app where you can find an exact location of the car. I found out that it was comfortably driving 70km/h somewhere in Richmond. The car was stolen!” commented Pinkowski via Facebook.
Hwang said at around 10:30 p.m. RCMP got the call from the dispatcher who was speaking to Pinkowski during the ordeal.
“The car was being monitored by its owner and allegedly driving toward Richmond,” said Hwang.
“The Tesla was in downtown Richmond and moving north on No. 3 Road toward River Road, then east toward No. 5 Road,” said Hwang.
RCMP mobilized the K9-unit undercover vehicle and cruisers were stationed along River Road ready to deploy road spikes.
Hwang said because of the accuracy of the car’s GPS, Pinkowski led police right to 24 year-old Howard Geddes Skelding, who was stopped in the vehicle by the K9 vehicle.
“There was an element of surprise (in the arrest),” said Hwang.
Skelding, known to police, according to Hwang, has since been charged with possession of stolen property over $5,000.
Air One was ready but not required in the pursuit, “so that’s a plus,” said Hwang.
Pinkowski told the Province newspaper the thief gained access to the vehicle and found an extra key fob to start the engine.
“It was so much fun, actually. …I could tell the 911 operator was excited ... they’d never had this before, where they could actually track the car,” Pinkowski told The Province.
