A 45-year-old Saanich man beat a possible burglar in the head with his own bike helmet early Saturday morning as he chased him off his property, police report.

The resident was sleeping when he heard someone trying to open the ground-level bedroom window of his 900-block home of Annie Street around 1 a.m.

He jumped from his bed and peered through the venetian blinds, coming within inches of a man’s face who immediately ran off.

The resident ran outside and found a full-face shielded motocross style bike helmet on the ground. He picked up the helmet and flogged the suspect several times in the head.

The suspect then took the helmet, put it on and sped away on his bike, while carrying a large duffel bag.

Within 10 minutes, Saanich police arrested a 33-year-old well-known criminal nearby on Saanich Road. The man had several fresh facial wounds and several pieces of identification believed to be stolen, according to the news release from police.

The man was charged with break and enter and more charges are expected once the owners of the identification are contacted.

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