West Shore RCMP arrest suspects after series of break-ins

Police have arrested two suspects believed to the connected to a series of break-ins on the West Shore.

The RCMP said that between August 30 and October 14, 2021, at least seven break and enters were reported.

All of the break-ins occurred within walking distance of each other.

The suspects targeted vehicles and storage lockers in both secure and open-air parkades.

Multiple victims contacted police to report numerous items being stolen, damage to personal vehicles and damage to the apartment buildings themselves.

“Police were able to secure good quality surveillance videos from a number of the residences which captured predominately one suspect, who police were able to identify,” the RCMP explained.

The Vancouver Island RCMP’s Forensic Identification Section assisted with the investigation in collecting and analyzing evidence which led to the identity of the suspects, a 23 year-old man from View Royal and a 32 year-old man from Langford.

On October 6, the RCMP began investigating the identified suspect for a number of offences.

While conducting surveillance at a residence on Fairway Avenue in Langford, police witnessed an incident in which occupants of a vehicle pepper sprayed someone while driving past the address.

Officers stopped the vehicle, and both suspects were arrested.

On October 15, police executed a search warrant at one of the suspect’s residences and recovered stolen property from several of the break-ins, as well as ammunition, crossbows and a small amount of methamphetamine.

“This is an example of how one of several suspects are responsible for many crimes, resulting in an increase in property crime for one or more specific areas,” says Cst. Alex Bérubé, spokesperson for the West Shore RCMP.

The investigation remains ongoing. If you have any information, please contact the West Shore RCMP at 250-474-2264.