Castlegar backyards targeted by man breaking into sheds, stealing tools

Rash of backyard B-and-E’s

Photo: File

Castlegar RCMP have been dealing with reports of a backyard bandit this week, with a man reported to have hit four backyard sheds.

A break-and-enter bandit has been targeting backyard sheds in Castlegar this week.

On Monday, Castlegar RCMP received three separate reports of break-and-enter to sheds on private properties in the area of the 2100 block of Columbia Avenue and the 1500 block of Hunter Place in Castlegar.

The break and enters occurred sometime throughout the previous night.

“Two of the sheds were forcefully entered, with one having the lock cut off and the second shed having is plastic locking mechanism melted, most likely with torch lighter,” noted Sgt. M.M. Taylor of the Castlegar RCMP, in a statement Wednesday afternoon.

On Wednesday morning at approximately 2:30 a.m., a homeowner in the 100 block of Fifth Avenue interrupted a suspect breaking a lock on their backyard shed. The home owner yelled at the suspect who fled on foot.

The suspect was described as a male, being approximately five-foot-10-inches in height, “gaunt in the face” and wearing a leather jacket.

In regard to the break and enters, Taylor said the items stolen consisted of a battery DeWalt impact driver and brad nailer, a socket set, a Kreg pocket jig and a new wooden planter in a box.

Anyone with information is asked to contact the Castlegar RCMP at (250) 365-7721.