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Search on for West Kelowna wheelchair thieves

Surveillance video shows two men leaving the West Kelowna Walmart store with someone else's motorized shopping cart.
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Two suspects riding a stolen motorized shopping cart in the West Kelowna Walmart store.

The West Kelowna RCMP released video surveillance footage this weekend in the hopes of identifying two suspects believed to have stolen a motorized shopping cart wheelchair last Wednesday afternoon.

The incident occurred at the West Kelowna Walmart store and the alleged suspects were caught walking away with the wheelchair by the store's security cameras.

The camera video shows shows the first suspect male entering the east entrance of the Walmart in a wheelchair. The male suspect leaves his wheelchair at the east entrance and climbs onto a motorized shopping cart accompanied by a second male suspect.

Sometime later both suspects are then observed at the west entrance/exit of the store when the second suspect retrieves the victims wheelchair, assists the first suspect into the victims wheelchair and then pushes the first suspect out of the store's east exit.

"In reviewing the video surveillance footage, it appears as though the suspect knowingly left the store in someone else's mobility aid device, while leaving his own behind," said Cpl. Jesse O'Donaghey in a press release.

"Of course, there is a possibility that the suspect was confused and mistook the victim's mobility aid device for his own."

The investigation is ongoing and police are interested in speaking with the unknown woman, seen wearing the black and white checkered sweater, who awaited the use of the motorized shopping cart left behind by the suspects.

Suspect 1 is described as:

•    Male, possibly First Nations;

•    long dark brown or black hair;

•    wearing a plaid jacket, black toque, blue jeans and brown footwear;

Suspect 2 is described as:

•    Male, possibly First Nations;

•    long dark brown or black hair;

•    full goatee;

•    wearing a tan/beige coloured coat with a hood, a black shirt, light blue jeans and white shoes;

Anyone with any information is asked to contact the West Kelowna RCMP at 250-768-2880. Remain anonymous by calling Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477, leaving a tip online at www.crimestoppers.net or by texting your tip to CRIMES (274637) ktown.