A theft-from-auto suspect believed to have chalked up as many as 26 victims in recent weeks has been arrested by Saanich police.
Fingerprint evidence led to the arrest by Saanich officers, who worked with members of the Regional Crime Unit to locate the man. Crown prosecutors have streamlined the case to focus on three counts of theft under $5,000.
Saanich police Sgt. Steve Eassie said links to other crimes are expected to develop.
“It is probable that we will likely be able to clear quite a number of other theft-from-auto files that have occurred in our area over the last 18 months,” he said.
The suspect targeted only vehicles that had been left unlocked, Eassie said. “That message we were sending out previously, that people need to lock their vehicles, couldn’t be more true.”
The recent string of thefts began on June 23, followed by clusters of incidents July 1-2 and July 7-8. The hardest-hit areas were Lakehill and Blenkinsop Road/Cedar Hill Cross Road.
Loose change — as much as $200 to $300 worth in an evening — and small items, including sunglasses and iPods, were among the things the 35-year-old suspect admitted targeting, Eassie [email protected]
