Oliver man arrested after early morning business break-in spree

Photo: Castanet

One man is suspected of three break-and-enters in Oliver over the course of just a few hours early Sunday morning, and might be behind others.

According to Sgt. Don Wrigglesworth, local detachment commander, the spree began around 3 a.m. Feb. 5 when a commercial alarm was reported to RCMP at a business in the 200 block of Fairview Road.

A large rock appeared to have been thrown through the window, and the drawers and cabinets inside searched through.

At 3:38 a.m., police were called to another alarm in the 5800 block of Main Street. Once again, a rock had been used to break a window and small amount of cash and other items had been stolen.

At 4:45 a.m., while conducting patrols related to the previous two incidents, officers located a broken window at A&W on Main Street. Police opened the locked door to clear the building, triggering an audible alarm. The matter is under investigation.

During patrols, police found a man on a bicycle who attempted to flee from them on Skagit Avenue. They arrested him and found items linked to the break-and-enters in his possession.

The 43-year-old male remains in custody following a bail hearing and will appear in Penticton Provincial Court Wednesday morning.

Investigation is ongoing at the impacted business. Police have seized evidence like video, fingerprints and DNA.

“In a short time span one person is suspected to have committed three break and enters in our small community. I commend the officers who were working during the early hours of Sunday morning for apprehending this person who has caused so much damage in Oliver," said Sgt. Don Wrigglesworth, detachment commander.

“These break and enters have been a real scourge to our community since early October and there is a lot of evidence that has been gathered that I anticipate will link this same male to a number of those crimes."