The Victoria Police Department’s new Crime Reduction Unit has arrested a 26-year-old man believed to be behind a “one-man crime spree.”
It was the first such arrest for the unit, created to zero in on prolific offenders around the city, following an efficiency report done for the department by University of the Fraser Valley criminologist Darryl Plecas.
The man who was arrested is thought to be behind a string of break-and-enters in Victoria and Saanich. He was spotted skateboarding by officers in the downtown area, and taken into custody after a short foot chase.
Victoria police Insp. Brian Fox said the arrest is the reason the new unit was established.
“The CRU’s mandate is to reduce the victimization of our community by targeting these prolific offenders,” Fox said in a statement. “Stopping this one-man crime spree is just the start.”
Three counts of break-and enter and one of mischief are being recommended against the man. More charges could be coming.
Victoria police Const. Mike Russell said the Plecas report, released last September, looked at ways the department could better use its resources.
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