Sidney/North Saanich RCMP have arrested a man connected to a break-in at a home on Lochside Drive in North Saanich earlier this week.
According to police, the incident occurred overnight on September 8th, while the family was asleep in the house.
In the morning, the homeowners found items missing and checked their security cameras. The footage showed a man entering the house. They later shared images of the suspect on Facebook, warning neighbours and asking for help in identifying him.
In their post, the family mentioned that the man broke in just after midnight, slept on their couch, stole a couple of wallets, and left around 5 a.m. when their daughter got up to let the dog outside.
“It’s wild but crime is only getting worse,” the family told Victoria Buzz in a brief chat.
“This is the fourth time since we moved here in 2020 something has happened. Two years ago our boat was stolen.”
Police say a suspect matching the description was later spotted on a BC Transit bus heading to Victoria. Officers from Saanich and Central Saanich police arrested the man after he got off near Sayward Road. They recovered the stolen items from the home.
The man faces charges of breaking and entering and theft. He appeared in Victoria court on September 9th and was remanded in custody.
RCMP confirmed to Victoria Buzz that the suspect is known to police.
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.
Victoria Buzz has reached out to the family for further comment and will provide updates as more information becomes available.
