A North Saanich family is sharing their experience from a troubling incident earlier this week after waking up to find a stranger had entered their home while they slept.
The break-in occurred overnight on September 8th at a house on Lochside Drive, just south of Sidney. The family reported that the intruder, later identified by RCMP as 26-year-old Isaak Seghid Kalkidan, entered their home just after midnight and stayed on the property until 5:30 a.m. in the morning.
“We never physically saw or met the intruder in the house, thank goodness. If we had, surely there would have been an escalated altercation and someone would have been hurt,” said Peter, who lives in the home with his wife Sarah and their children.
The family said their 14-year-old daughter, Anna, surprised the suspect when she came downstairs to let the pets out at about 5:15 a.m. She did not see him directly, but later video showed the man leaving quickly while carrying his shoes.
By morning, family members noticed missing wallets, open bags, and items out of place. A knife from a fishing kit was left on the counter, and a trailer blanket was moved to the couch.
Security cameras confirmed what happened.
A community effort to catch the suspect
With help from neighbours, friends, and strangers online, police found the suspect later that day. A community member recognized Kalkidan from the family’s Facebook post as he tried to get on a BC Transit bus.
Another friend, Jon Guthrie, brought the bus to a stop by positioning his vehicle in front of it. He informed the driver, leading to the man being arrested at the next bus stop.
“Jon deserves a huge amount of recognition for his quick action, as does the community member Rachel,” said Peter.
“I can’t praise them enough. Additionally, the Sidney RCMP and local police displayed exemplary efforts and speed. Truly an unreal effort by all parties.”
RCMP confirmed that they arrested the man near Sayward Road after being spotted on a BC Transit bus heading to Victoria. Officers from Saanich and Central Saanich police assisted with the arrest.
They found the stolen items in the suspects possesion and returned them to the family. Officers also took a knife from him when they arrested him.
Related: Saanich Peninsula family wakes up to intruder sleeping on their couch
Lingering fears and frustration
While grateful for the community support, the family said the incident has left them shaken.
“Our homes are supposed to be safe places for us and our families, so having someone come in under our radar is an extremely violating feeling,” Peter explained. “It’s hard not to think of the what-ifs — our family could have been harmed or worse.”
They also expressed frustration with the justice system.
“This particular fellow has been caught and released many times without consequence. It highlights the issues with our judicial system,” Peter said.
Sidney North Saanich RCMP confirmed to Victoria Buzz the suspect is known to police.
Not the first incident
The family mentioned that this was not the first crime they had faced since moving to the area in 2020. Over the past few years, they dealt with car break-ins, gas theft, vandalism of Christmas decorations, and even the theft of a boat.
“Unfortunately, this is the fifth time we have experienced issues since moving in,” Peter said. “Way, way more is happening in the area. It’s out of control.”
Calls for community action
The family says they have added more security measures at home. They also encourage others to report any incidents in the area.
“I would encourage the community to publicly share any bad incidents they have experienced. The more people know, the better. Perhaps we need to come together as a community. The crime in this municipality needs to be on the table at the next election,” Peter said.
Police praised the community for helping to solve the case.
“The assistance from the public member who quickly acted on the information from the social media post was key in locating the suspect,” said Constable Benje Bartley, media relations officer with Sidney/North Saanich RCMP.
Kalkidan remains in custody ahead of a court hearing scheduled for September 17th. He is facing charges of breaking and entering and theft.
