New West police have arrested a Coquitlam man they allege is responsible for keying more than 60 cars in the city’s West End last week.
On Nov. 12, residents living near London Street between 15th and 20th streets in the West End awoke to find many of the vehicles parked on the street had been damaged or keyed. Investigators with the street crime unit were assigned the case, according to a media release from the New Westminster Police Department.
Through the investigation, officers recalled a prolific offender who had been arrested about eight years ago and was convicted of more than 50 counts of mischief under $5,000 for damaging dozens of vehicles in Burnaby, Coquitlam and Vancouver, according to the release.
“As a result, the (New West) street crime unit commenced an investigation and on Nov. 18, 2014, observed the suspect damaging vehicles in Burnaby,” the release stated.
Shortly after, the suspect was arrested and charged with two counts of mischief to property over $5,000 for allegedly damaging 129 cars in both New West and Burnaby during the last week.
“It is very satisfying to have taken this prolific offender off the streets to prevent the public from being further victimized,” Chief Const. Dave Jones said in the release.
The suspect remains in custody at this time and is scheduled to appear in court on Nov. 24.
