File # 14-25487Date: Monday, June 16, 2014Listen: Eagle-Eyed Block Watch Member, K9 and Rookie VicPD Officer Snag Wanted Car Thief In FernwoodVictoria, BC – An eagle-eyed VicPD Block Watch Member, a rookie VicPD officer and VicPD K9 officers teamed up to capture a man wanted on multiple charges, who was stealing from parked vehicles in the Fernwood neighbourhood.The Block Watch member called the 911 Communications Centre at 11:30 p.m. Sunday night with an eye on a man who had broken into a vehicle on the 1300-block of Grant Street. The Block Watch member kept the man in sight as he rummaged through the vehicle. Unfortunately, the male left the scene prior to police arrival.Patrol members arrived on scene alongside Police Service Dog “Diesel” and locked down the area. After a short search, Diesel tracked the suspect to his hiding spot in a vehicle halfway up the block in the 1300-block of Grant Street. Rookie VicPD Constable Casey Jones, who was on his first night shift, made the arrest.Upon arrest, it was discovered that the suspect, having been identified as a prolific property offender by VicPD’s Crime Reduction Unit, was also wanted on charges of Assault, Uttering Threats and three counts of Theft Under $5000. “A rookie officer’s first arrest makes all the training worth it,” said Chief Constable Frank Elsner. “I swore Cst. Jones in this February. It makes me proud to see him take a prolific offender into custody.”Acting Block Watch Coordinator Kimberly Kelley said “Block Watch is about people knowing their neighbours and looking out for them. This call shows that Block Watch members care about their neighbourhoods and take action when needed.”In addition to the Assault, Threats and Theft charges above, the suspect, a 44-year-old Victoria man, has been held in custody and now faces additional charges of Theft under $5000 and Trespassing at Night.If you would like to sign up to join a Block Watch in your neighbourhood visit www.vicpd.ca/blockwatchwww.vicpd.ca