A local business is offering $25,000 reward for information that identifies suspects involved in arson in North Vancouver.
Mitchell Martin, the owner of Mitchell Towing, is asking anyone with information to anonymously contact Metro Vancouver Crime Stoppers.
Two of the company’s trucks were set on fire in the early morning of Friday, September 25, 2020, along with six other vehicles in the company’s lot at 1225 Welch Street.
One of the tow trucks, used frequently for responding to calls on the Ironworkers Memorial Bridge, was destroyed and had to be replaced.
The other damaged truck is no longer fit for use and has been kept for training purposes only.
“We did recover dashcam video from one of the trucks showing someone in our locked compound about 2:15 that morning,” Martin says.
“Arson cases like this threaten the safety and security of our staff, our customers and the community at large. No one is safe while this person’s at large and I’m appealing to anyone with information to leave an anonymous tip with Crime Stoppers.”
The dashcam video reveals someone who appears to be a male of average height and build, carrying a black backpack with a red bottle in the side pocket. The person’s face was covered by a blue surgical face mask, which can be seen in this video.
“Like any crime, we always guarantee anonymity to anyone providing information,” adds Linda Annis, Executive Director of Metro Vancouver Crime Stoppers.
“Any and all information provided in tips we receive on this case will be passed on directly to the RCMP. We are not the police, and we don’t want to know who you are, but we do want to receive information that police can use to investigate and make an arrest.”
“We need help to move this investigation forward,” says Sgt. Peter DeVries of the North Vancouver RCMP.
“We’re talking to the person that knows who lit this fire,” said DeVries.
“You can do the right thing and you can stay hidden. We, the police, don’t ever need to know who you are. And if the information you give to Crime Stoppers leads to an arrest and conviction, there’s $25,000 available for you if you decide you want it.”
Anyone with information about the case can contact Metro Vancouver Crime Stoppers anonymously through Crime Stoppers’ downloadable “P3” app for Apple and Android phones, calling Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222- 8477, online at solvecrime.ca, or by following the link on the Metro Vancouver Crime Stoppers Facebook page. Find MVCS on Twitter: @solvecrime.
I can understand that many folks are not happy to get towed.
You don’t burn down the company that towed you.
There have also been times when tow companies have been my best friend.