After an extensive investigation by the West Shore RCMP Crime Reduction Unit, police have arrested a 57-year-old male suspect and seized $30,000 of dollars worth of stolen tools and equipment from a Saanich storage unit.
The investigation began in May after the Crime Reduction Unit was given information that helped them identify a chronic property crime offender believed to be in the possession of stolen property, according to a West Shore RCMP media release that was issued on July 8.
Police say the suspect was known to frequently visit the West Shore area, and that this information led the unit to conduct covert surveillance on the 57-year-old, who was seen coming and going from a storage unit in Saanich.
Our unit executed a search warrant on the storage unit and uncovered a massive amount of stolen property. We have since linked the recovered stolen property to different thefts that were reported across the Greater Victoria Area and are returning the property to the rightful owners,
said Cpl. Fred Ritchie of the West Shore RCMP Crime Reduction Unit.
The West Shore RCMP says the Crime Reduction Unit mandate is to investigate and reduce property crime and often times thefts are committed in one area and the stolen items are taken across jurisdictions to sell or trade.
The 57-year-old suspect was eventually arrested for possession of stolen property over $5,000 but upon arrest, the suspect was searched and police found approximately 17 grams of suspected methamphetamine on him.
RCMP are recommending the suspect be charged with possession of stolen property as well as possession for the purposes of trafficking.
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Rebecca Lawrence
