The Saanich Police Department has captured a man being described as a “prolific criminal” who officers believe was responsible for a series of recent thefts from vehicles.
Officers with the Saanich Police Street Crime Unit say they were able to locate and arrest a 42-year-old man on Tuesday.
This man is well-known to the police for having a “lengthy history” of targeting unlocked vehicles in the region.
Saanich PD says that the suspect would steal items such as cash, wallets, purses, jewellery and credit cards, of which he would then make fraudulent purchases at stores.
According to a police release, the man would sometimes enter as many as 80-100 vehicles over the course of an evening.
A search warrant was executed on the man’s residence in Esquimalt and police say several stolen items were recovered.
The items recovered were from reported thefts from vehicles, mostly in the north area of Saanich, but some also from Esquimalt and West Shore area thefts.
“We understand that this suspect targeted specific areas of Saanich due to his previous years of knowledge that these areas were known to have a combination of more unlocked vehicles and items of value left inside overnight than other areas in our area. While officers with our Street Crime Unit continue to investigate the property-related offences committed in our community, our crime prevention efforts are also increasing to help remind residents of the role that they play in locking out auto crime.”
Graham Cox
