Saanich police say a 40-year-old man was arrested early Monday morning after six break-and-enters at liquor stores in Saanich throughout October.
Saanich police say the break-and-enters were reported from Oct. 2 to Oct. 26. During all of the break-and-enters, glass windows or wall panels were removed so the suspect could enter the store. Wine, beer and other bottled alcoholic drinks were stolen.
At around 3:30 a.m. Oct. 26, a VicPD officer stopped a vehicle on Highway 17 near McKenzie Avenue. Saanich police said the officer knew the vehicle was associated with a person wanted on a warrant and outstanding property crimes. The male driver was arrested.
At the same time, a Saanich police officer went to a nearby liquor store in 4400 block of West Saanich Road and discovered a break and enter had occurred overnight, which included the removal of a glass
windowpane.
Bottles of liquor from the store were found in the vehicle that had been stopped on Highway 17.
“The suspect clearly knew how to remove large panels of glass carefully which would have afforded them a rather quiet entry into the store. This is not a common means of breaking into a building nor a skillset common without previous training or knowledge,” said Const. Markus Anastasiades, public information and communications officer with Saanich PD said in a statement.
Saanich police are still investigating the break-and-enters. Police say the man who was arrested is known to police.
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