Community Alert: Robbery-Related Vehicle Theft in Sackville, NB

Two individuals from Springhill, Nova Scotia, have been charged in connection with a daytime vehicle theft and robbery on Main Street in Sackville, New Brunswick. The incident occurred on June 21, 2026, and involved force being used against a woman as her vehicle was taken.

According to the RCMP, officers responded early that afternoon to a report of a stolen vehicle near a local business. A 24-year-old man and a 45-year-old woman were later identified as suspects, arrested in Sackville, and subsequently charged with robbery. The stolen vehicle has been recovered, and the investigation remains active.

Official Incident Details

Based on information released by the Sackville RCMP, the sequence of events and enforcement actions are as follows:

• June 21, 2026 – Approximately 1:13 p.m.
  RCMP members in Sackville, N.B., responded to a report of a vehicle theft near a business on Main Street.
• The victim was attempting to get into her vehicle when a man approached, took hold of her keys, pushed her to the ground, and then left the area driving her vehicle.
• The woman was transported to hospital with what were believed to be minor injuries.
• During the investigation, the Southeast Community Crime Reduction Unit identified two suspects believed to be involved in the theft and robbery. The stolen vehicle was later recovered by police.

Arrests and Charges

Following the investigation, the RCMP reported the following enforcement milestones:

• June 25, 2026 – A 24-year-old man and a 45-year-old woman, both from Springhill, N.S., were arrested in Sackville without incident and held in custody.
• June 26, 2026 – The accused, identified as 24-year-old Zachary Chatfield and 45-year-old Melissa Chatfield, appeared in Moncton Provincial Court.
• Both individuals were formally charged with robbery in connection with the vehicle theft incident.
• They were initially remanded in custody while awaiting a further court date.
• July 2, 2026 – Zachary and Melissa Chatfield appeared again in Moncton Provincial Court and were released from custody pending future court appearances.

The RCMP has confirmed that the investigation into this robbery-related vehicle theft is still ongoing. No public assistance request or contact numbers were specified in the official bulletin. For Canadians seeking to understand how local crime patterns compare across the country, CrimeCanada.ca also tracks detailed crime statistics for smaller communities, helping contextualize incidents like this within broader trends.

CrimeCanada.ca Safety Perspective

From the perspective of CrimeCanada.ca, this incident is an important reminder for residents across New Brunswick that personal vehicles can be a target for opportunistic and sometimes violent crime, even during the middle of the day and in busy commercial areas. Situations where a victim is confronted at close range and forced to the ground, as described here, can escalate quickly and carry a high risk of injury and trauma.

While every case is unique, there are some general precautions community members can keep in mind: stay aware of your surroundings when approaching or leaving your vehicle, especially in parking lots and adjacent to businesses; keep keys secure and ready before you reach your car; and if you feel unsafe or notice suspicious behaviour nearby, consider returning to a public area or business and contacting police rather than proceeding alone. Reporting concerning activity promptly can help local police and community crime reduction units intervene earlier and identify patterns, contributing to safer streets for everyone.

Official Source & Community Safety

This safety alert is based on an official release from the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP). CrimeCanada.ca aggregates and analyzes this data to keep the new-brunswick community informed, aware, and safe. We are an independent safety data aggregator and not the original creators of the underlying incident report.

Read the full official release here: RCMP Official Statement.