Police surround parked camper van in New Westminster, leave empty-handed

Armed police broke into a camper van parked in a lot in New Westminster, only to leave with no suspect.

A large police presence descended upon a camper van parked in a lot in New Westminster, B.C., Wednesday night, only to break in and leave with no suspect.

According to the Vancouver Police Department, officers began investigating an assault that had occurred in East Vancouver around 7 p.m., and believed an RV belonging to the suspect was located in New Westminster.

Witnesses at the scene Wednesday evening described police surrounding the van, parked at a lot at McBride Boulevard and 8th Avenue, and yelling for the person inside to leave the vehicle as they were under arrest.

“It was initially believed that the suspect may have been inside the RV, however the suspect has not yet been located and remains at large,” police said in a statement, released Thursday.

Police believe the victim and the suspect know one another, and there isn’t thought to be a risk to the public.

The victim is “recovering,” said police.