‘Borocop’: Ottawa Senators defenceman Mark Borowiecki foils Vancouver theft in progress

An NHL defenceman is earning accolades after intervening in a theft in progress in Vancouver’s Gastown.

It happened around 1:30 p.m. Sunday, when Ottawa Senators alternate captain Mark Borowiecki saw someone break into a parked vehicle and take a backpack near Granville and West Cordova Streets, according to police.

The alleged thief took off on a bicycle, at which point Borowiecki stepped in, and, according to a TSN report, “clotheslined” the man, knocking him to the ground.

“Mark, acting like the defenceman he is, tracked down the thief and wrestled the bag away from him as the thief rode away,” said Const. Aaron Roed with Vancouver police.

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“He does have an interesting nickname — ‘Borocop,’ from what I understand — and it’s rightfully so for this situation. He stepped up and assisted the Vancouver police and was able to get the property back to its rightful owners.”

2:02 Former Toronto Raptors star robbed in Vancouver

The defenceman met with Vancouver police on Monday to return the bag, and is expected to address the media on Tuesday.

Vancouver police are using the incident to remind holiday shoppers to take extra security measures with their vehicles.

“As this did happen on Dec. 1, it’s the start of the holiday season, we are going to see more and more parcels in the back of vehicles and the front of vehicles,” Roed said.

“We’re asking people keep your property in your car safe, keep it secure and out of sight.”

The Senators were in Vancouver ahead of Tuesday’s game against the Vancouver Canucks.

It’s not the first time a professional athlete has found themselves at the centre of a crime story involving the area.

In July, Toronto Raptors star Danny Green said his vehicle was broken into and his bags stolen in the adjacent Downtown Eastside he was in town for a basketball skills camp.