Vernon RCMP suspect a man looking to rip off a marijuana grow operation off Westside Road got the wrong house.
A 73-year-old woman, alone in her home, got quite a fright Friday night.
At around 11 p.m., a man brandishing a handgun kicked open the woman’s front door.
“He thought there was a grow operation in the home, and, no, there wasn’t,” said Vernon RCMP spokesperson Gord Molendyk.
The woman called police who sent out a police service dog. The canine was able to track the suspect for a short distance down the road to where, police say, it appears a vehicle was waiting.
A road block was set up on Westside Road plus the Vernon end of Westside Road, but the suspect eluded police.
There is no description of the vehicle, but police say the suspect was wearing a bellaclava over his face at the time of the incident. He is believed to be a Caucasian male, in his 20s with a slim build. He was wearing dark clothing.
Anybody with any information on this incident is asked to call the Vernon RCMP at 250-545-7171, or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.
Police are also checking a possible connection to a similar incident in Peachland an hour or so before the Alpine Road call.
