Date: Monday, March 6, 2023

Files: 23-7488, 23-6079, 23-4898, 23-4869

Victoria, BC – A Victoria man faces 23 recommended charges after officers executed a search warrant and located over $11,000 in stolen property.

23-4689, 23-4898 | Suspect breaks into financial services business and school

Just before 7 am on Wednesday, February 8, 2023, Patrol officers were dispatched to a financial services business in the 1800-block of Oak Bay Avenue after a security guard discovered evidence of a break-in. CCTV footage showed a man force entry into the building and then exit with documents sticking out of his backpack a few minutes later.

A short time later, Patrol officers were dispatched to a school in the 700-block of Richmond Avenue,  located a short distance away from the financial services business, for a report of a similar break and enter. CCTV footage from that location showed a man wearing similar clothes and using a similar mode of travel, enter the school and search through filing cabinets and other school areas. The man was wearing a backpack with documents sticking out of it from the financial services business. Electronic equipment was stolen from the school during the break-in.

 

23-6079 | Suspect breaks into technology company – twice.

Just before 6 am on Friday, February 17, 2023, Patrol officers were dispatched to a technology company in the 500-block of Head Street for a report of an open window with electronics hanging out of it. Officers arrived and cleared the building, confirming that it was empty. Staff arrived and conducted a canvas of their property and discovered several unique pieces of technology missing. Some of these items are proprietary to the company and are not available anywhere else.

Nine days later on Sunday, February 26, 2023, Patrol officers were again dispatched to the same technology company in the 500-block of Head Street after an alarm was activated at approximately 3:40 am. This time, officers discovered a widow from the building had been removed and again, cleared the building to ensure no suspects remained inside. Staff reported the theft of additional pieces of technology.

Following the break and enter investigations, staff with our Analysis and Intelligence Section (AIS) liaised with partners in the region and discovered potential links to number of similar break and enters. They identified a suspect and worked to locate him.

The suspect was located at a unit in a multi-unit residential supportive housing building in the 700-block of Queens Avenue. Officers obtained a search warrant for the unit and executed it on Friday, March 3, 2023. During the search, officers located property linking the suspect back to multiple break and enter investigations, and the suspect, hiding under a mattress. He was arrested and transported to VicPD cells. The value of the recovered stolen property is in excess of $11,000.

Upon confirming his identity, officers determined the suspect to be in multiple breaches of court-ordered conditions related to previous convictions.

The man faces 23 recommended charges. They are:

  • 1 x Obstruction;
  • 4 x Break and Enter;
  • 2 x Possession of Property Obtained by Crime – one over $5,000, one under $5,000;
  • 16 x Breach of release order.

The suspect was held for court.

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