Kelowna

It would appear even thieves need to take a coffee break.

Photo: Contributed - Surveillance Picture

Police believe thieves who broke into Next Generation Computers are now behind bars

Three men, suspected of perpetrating 15 break and enters in Kelowna and West Kelowna over the past number of days were nabbed about 1 a.m. Monday morning at Tim Hortons on Harvey Avenue.

Cst. Kris Clark says police located a white Dodge van in the restaurant's parking lot, which appeared similar to one associated with the break-ins.

Clark says the plates did not match the van. It was determined the van had been stolen from Campion Street back in October.

"Three men identified as suspects in at least one of the break-ins were located inside the restaurant," says Clark.

"The three were taken into custody in relation to the break and enter and were found to be in possession of break-in instruments and stolen property."

Clark says the three men, age 24 (from Kamloops), 25 and 45 (from Kelowna) are scheduled to appear in court Tuesday.

He says police are investigating a number of break-ins from over the weekend to determine whether the same men were involved.

Clark says eight commercial and seven residential break-ins have taken place recently using a variety of MO's.

"From the typical smash and grab where they smash the front door and grab the cash box to lock pulling where they pull the lock right out of the door to what we believe may be lock bumping," says Clark.

"The businesses found, with the door insecure, it looks like a key has been used because there is no damage. It's basically a technique where a key is entered and it's bumped in a certain way to trick the lock into thinking the actual key has been used."

Various items from cash to laptops and other expensive products were taken.

Owners of Next Generation Computers on Ellis Street, who were broken into Thursday morning, say police visited them Tuesday morning to inform them suspects have been arrested in connection with the break-in at their store.

In that instance, three men broke into the store about 5:40 a.m. Thursday after drilling out the lock.

A high end laser printer, laptops and all-in-one computer were taken.

It is believed two of those men were in the store late the previous afternoon.