Maple Ridge city Councillor Ahmed Yousef delivered an alleged thief to the RCMP after a citizen含羞草研究社檚 arrest at his home.

Now he wants to ensure the culprit faces justice, but police say they are not considering charges.

Yousef含羞草研究社檚 home is undergoing extensive renovations, but he has secured the site with a high metal fence.

Still, he noticed earlier this month that someone had gone into his garden shed and stolen a hedge trimmer, as well as its batteries and charger. He put a new padlock and bolt on the shed door.

Later, he noticed the newly installed lock had been broken, leaving the shed insecure. He searched and found nothing obviously missing, but suspected the culprit might be planning to return later to make a bigger haul.

At about noon on Nov. 8, Yousef was downstairs in the home when he heard footsteps. Someone was moving around on the main floor of his house. He surprised the intruder at his back door.

含羞草研究社淭hat含羞草研究社檚 when I confronted him. I acted very swiftly to restrain him on the ground,含羞草研究社� he said.

He said the perpetrator had a pair of bolt cutters, but did not appear to have a weapon. The perp was the larger man, but Yousef had self-defence training, and kept him on the ground.

He called the police to report a citizen含羞草研究社檚 arrest.

Yousef took photos of the culprit含羞草研究社檚 face, and of his BC Services Card - revealing a 30-year-old Maple Ridge resident. The intruder had three duffle bags 含羞草研究社� one he was carrying, one he left in the house, and one near his bike, outside the fence. Yousef did not get a chance to look into them before police arrived.

The arresting officer was pleased to find the culprit still there, and told the city councillor that in most cases of citizen含羞草研究社檚 arrest, the perpetrators have left the scene by the time police arrive.

READ ALSO:

Yousef said he heard the officer place the man under arrest for breaking and entering.

However, the episode did not end to the satisfaction of the councillor, because the officer released the man from the scene.

含羞草研究社淗e got out of the police cruiser, got on his bike, and rode off,含羞草研究社� said Yousef.

Now he hopes there will be charges, and plans to press the issue.

含羞草研究社淥bviously he was in my house uninvited,含羞草研究社� Yousef said.

The entire situation could have been much worse, if one of his more vulnerable family members had been at the house, he asserts.

含羞草研究社淭here was potential for this to go very badly, very quickly.含羞草研究社�

Not charging the intruder would send the wrong message, Yousef said.

含羞草研究社淲e含羞草研究社檙e teaching them that if you含羞草研究社檙e down and out, feel free to break into people含羞草研究社檚 homes and steal,含羞草研究社� he said. 含羞草研究社淲e need equal and consistent application of the law.含羞草研究社�

Police are not considering charges at this time, calling the man a 含羞草研究社渟quatter at an insecure, partially torn down residence.含羞草研究社�

含羞草研究社淧olice were contacted by the owner of the property who located the unknown person on their property,含羞草研究社� said Cpl. Julie Klaussner. 含羞草研究社淧olice attended and the person was removed without incident. This investigation is concluded and charges are not being considered at this time.含羞草研究社�

Informed about the police statement, Yousef called it disappointing, but said he plans to urge police to charge the man he apprehended.

READ ALSO: