Neighbours armed with 'garden tools' stop break-in suspect in Cedar, B.C., police say

Residents of a neighbourhood near Nanaimo armed themselves with "garden tools" to confront a break-in suspect last week, according to local police.
The incident occurred in Cedar, B.C., on Jan. 25. Around 6 p.m. that day, police arrested the suspect in the 1700 block of Woobank Road, according to a news release from Nanaimo RCMP.
Police said "numerous officers" responded to 911 calls around 3 p.m. when a homeowner in the 2400 block of Yellow Point Road found an intruder in his home.
After a struggle, during which the suspect suffered a head injury and "lost a significant amount of blood," he managed to get away, police said.
Officers searched the area with a police dog, but were unable to find the suspect until they received more 911 calls, RCMP said.
Those calls reported that a man with dried blood on him had tried to break into a home some two kilometres away from the original incident.
"This time, several neighbours came together and, brandishing a variety of garden tools, prevented the individual from fleeing," police said in their statement.
"Officers responded and arrested the suspect for the two attempted break-and-enters."
The 34-year-old was taken to hospital for treatment, then taken to the Nanaimo RCMP detachment, where he was held overnight, police said.
The suspect, who has no fixed address, was also the subject of four outstanding warrants from North Cowichan, police said.
The investigation into the attempted break-ins is ongoing, police said, adding that charges have not yet been laid.
"We are pleased that the suspect was eventually located and that none of the homeowners were injured while trying to subdue him," said Const. Gary O’Brien in the statement.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
LIVE UPDATES | Watch live coverage of U.S. President Joe Biden's trip to Canada
As Joe Biden makes his first trip to Canada as president of the United States, CTVNews.ca is offering live coverage of the leader's visit. Follow our live blog on CTVNews.ca and the CTV News app for the latest updates.

WATCH LIVE | 'A lot to talk about,' Biden says in meeting with Trudeau before addressing Parliament
U.S. President Joe Biden arrived on Parliament Hill saying that he and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau "have a lot to talk about," but that it's great to be in Canada.
Eugene Levy, Sarah Polley, Jean Chretien, the two Michaels among guests at Biden gala dinner
Notable people will be in attendance at Friday’s gala dinner with U.S. President Joe Biden, hosted by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his wife at the Canadian Aviation and Space Museum, including former prime ministers and celebrities.
Ontario crypto king kidnapped, tortured in an attempt to get millions in ransom, documents say
Ontario’s self-described crypto king was allegedly abducted, tortured, and beaten for days as his kidnappers looked to solicit millions in ransom, his father told a court in December.
Incredible photos show northern lights dancing across much of Canada
Sky-gazers and shutterbugs across much of Canada were treated to a spectacular display of northern lights Thursday night and into Friday morning.
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau introduces Jill Biden to curling during Ottawa visit
The United States' first lady was given a sweeping introduction to Canadian sports culture in Ottawa today as Sophie Gregoire Trudeau took Jill Biden to the curling rink.
W5 Investigates | 'Canadians should be very concerned about their drinking water': W5 investigates asbestos cement pipes
W5 investigates aging asbestos pipes across Canada and the potential health hazards if it ends up in your tap water. Watch W5's 'Something in the Water' Saturday at 7 p.m. on CTV.
Airbnb to pull listings that don't have proper permits in Quebec
Short-term rental company Airbnb says it will pull listings that don't have a proper permit from the Quebec government. The San Francisco-based company made the announcement eight days after a fatal fire destroyed an Old Montreal building that housed illegal rentals.
W5 EXCLUSIVE | New police force should be appointed to take over investigation into death of teenaged hockey player, complaint says
An Ontario couple has filed a request with the Office of the Independent Police Review Director (OIPRD) to appoint a new police force to investigate the death of their 17-year-old son Benjamin, who died during a hockey team-bonding event in September 2019.