A Saanich resident got the surprise of her life when she returned home Thursday morning to find an unfamiliar car backed onto her property, some of her possessions loaded into the vehicle, her front door wide open and a stranger inside her house.

The woman called Saanich police around 9:30 a.m. to her home in the 4500-block of Blenkinsop Rd.

Prior to police arrival, her husband returned home. He successfully pinned the unknown car in with his truck, just as the thief attempted to drive away.

The thief then ran away, abandoning the vehicle and the stolen goods.

A Saanich police canine officer arrived on scene and tracked the thief several blocks through yards, hedges and fields.

The police dog found the suspect hiding in some tall grass in a hay field down the road.

Michael Van Winkle, 36, faces one count each of break and enter, and possession of stolen property.

kslavin@saanichnews.com