OnStar helps Saskatoon police track stolen vehicle, suspect

A suspect who stole a vehicle from Prince Albert was being tracked the whole time – likely without knowing it.

Saskatoon police said officers received a report of a stolen vehicle through OnStar, the auto’s built-in security system, around 1 p.m. Thursday.

Officers followed OnStar’s directions to the 500 block of Cynthia Street.

OnStar staff kept an open line of communication with police, advising officers of the route of the suspect vehicle.

Police later observed the vehicle at Millar Avenue and Circle Drive East, where they tried to stop the driver.

As soon as the patrol car’s emergency equipment was activated, the suspect tried to speed away.

Police said the suspect eventually stopped and got out of the vehicle near Circle Drive, east of Warman Road.

The K9 unit was sent out and tracked the suspect to an area around the 800 block of Circle Drive East. Staff members from a business in the area then notified officers they had discovered a suspicious male in their building and had detained him.

A 34- year-old man, who was unlawfully at large, was arrested without incident.

Both the suspect vehicle and licence plate were found to have been stolen.

The man faces charges related to possessing stolen property and methamphetamine, along with driving while impaired.

He was also issued tickets for misuse of a licence plate, operating an unregistered vehicle and driving without a driver’s licence.