Saanich police have arrested a suspect in a string of thefts from vehicles over the past several weeks.
The north area of Saanich was the hardest hit.
The Street Crime Unit located a 42-year-old man known to them for targeting unlocked vehicles on Tuesday. He steals such thing as cash, wallets, purses, jewelry and credit cards that he uses to make fraudulent purchases at stores.
A typical evening would see him enter 80 to 100 vehicles, police said.
A search warrant carried out at his Esquimalt residence turned up items linked to several Saanich thefts, as well as thefts in Esquimalt and the West Shore.
Police said the man targeted parts of Saanich that he knew from experience have had more unlocked vehicles and valuables left inside them than other neighbourhoods.
“While officers with our Street Crime Unit continue to investigate the property-related offences committed in our community, our crime-prevention efforts are also increasing to help remind residents of the role that they play in locking out auto crime,” said Const. Markus Anastasiades.
