A clothing rack at a Walmart store on Vancouver Island was set on fire, leading to the arrest of a suspect.
According to the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP), the incident occurred on Monday evening at the Walmart located on the 8500 block of Island Highway in North Nanaimo.
Witnesses reported seeing a man intentionally setting fire to a clothing rack inside the store. The fire was quickly extinguished by store employees, and no injuries were reported.
The suspect, a 35-year-old man, was arrested at the scene and is facing charges of arson and mischief. He is currently in police custody and is scheduled to appear in court on Tuesday.
The motive behind the arson is still under investigation, and the RCMP is asking anyone with information to come forward.
In a statement, Walmart Canada expressed their gratitude to the store employees for their quick response and to the RCMP for their swift action in apprehending the suspect.
The store was temporarily closed for cleanup and is now back in operation.
This incident serves as a reminder of the importance of remaining vigilant and reporting any suspicious activity to the authorities. The RCMP is also reminding the public that arson is a serious crime with severe consequences.
The investigation is ongoing, and anyone with information is urged to contact the Nanaimo RCMP at 250-754-2345 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.
