The owner of a truck that was stolen last week and found on fire at the Cedar Hill Golf Course is hoping the suspect will turn their life around.

For ten years, Tony Nicholls has taken care of the green space outside of his church at North Douglas Pentecostal in Saanich.

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As he was finishing up using a leaf blower around 9 p.m. on May 28, he noticed that someone had gotten inside the work truck. Nicholls says he was confused until the driver went over the curb and drove away.

“It was like, ‘Is this really happening?’”, said Nichols.

After trying to catch up to the driver on foot, he called Saanich Police.

Police said they received a call of a stolen vehicle in the 600 block of Jolly Place, but later on would find that vehicle at the Cedar Hill Recreation Centre several kilometres away.

The driver of the stolen truck then drove onto the Cedar Hill Golf Course, hitting two police vehicles in the process.

“They had him boxed in, and they backed off, surrounded the golf course, and brought the dogs in,” said Nicholls.

Police located the stolen vehicle in the middle of the fairway of the seventh hole, on fire.

One man, Bronston Vincent Barry, remains in custody with five charges pending, including motor vehicle theft and mischief to property over $5,000.

Inside the burnt truck were the owner’s ID, wallet, lawn equipment, cash, customer information and pay cheques from previous jobs.

“I’m probably up to around $20,000. So it’s a big hit,” said Nichols.

Nichols isn’t letting this setback affect him. He hopes that the suspect will instead turn their life around.

“My hope and prayers are that he finds some peace with God and reaches out for help and get his life in order,” said Nichols.

In the meantime, Nichols is using an older truck that he says needs additional work to be reliable and has rented out some equipment.

A GoFundMe page has also been set up in his name to help offset the cost of replacing his equipment.

“I’m limping along…I’ve had to modify some things, but you know what? It is getting better,” said the owner.

The Cedar Hill Golf Course is fully reopened, including the affected fairway. Tiana Solares, senior manager of recreation services, says the estimated cost for restoring the fairway is unknown right now.

“Full restoration is going to take place over the coming weeks as our crews work through that process.”