This story has been updated.
Police believe a man crushed to death under a car in Burnaby early Tuesday morning was in the process of “committing a property crime” when the vehicle fell on him.
First responders were called to 2495 Beta Ave. just after 3:10 a.m. after someone reported finding legs sticking out from under a BMW, according to assistant fire Chief Dave Younger.
“It was jacked up, and that was knocked out,” he told the NOW.
Younger said it appeared the man had been trapped under the car “for a while,” and he was declared dead at the scene.
Firefighters used airbags to lift the car and recover the body.
“It looks like a possible theft,” Younger said. “People steal those catalytic converters – although it was still there – but there was a saw and stuff like he was going to remove it.”
In a statement later in the morning, Burnaby RCMP spokesperson Mike Kalanj confirmed the car the man was found under was not registered to him.
The man’s identification was confirmed via photo ID located in his vehicle a short distance away, according to Kalanj.
“The man is believed to have been in the process of committing a property crime offence,” Kalanj said. “The incident is not considered suspicious at this time. Police are in the process of notifying the man’s family.”
Follow Cornelia Naylor on Twitter @CorNaylor
Email cnaylor@burnabynow.com
