REGINA — A 41-year-old Regina man is facing 19 charges after police linked him to seven separate attempted vehicle thefts across the city over a five-week period.
He was arrested on April 9 after officers responded to a report of a suspicious person inside a vehicle in the 6500 block of Rochdale Boulevard. The caller said a man was inside their car. The suspect fled before police arrived, but officers located him nearby and arrested him. The steering column and wiring of the vehicle were damaged. This was the same pattern officers saw in other attempted thefts.
Police determined that the man was responsible for six similar incidents dating back to early March.
The first reported attempt was on March 7 in the 4000 block of Retallack Street, where a woman told police she saw someone inside her vehicle. When she went outside, the suspect got out and ran away, leaving behind a damaged steering column and wiring.
On March 11, a vehicle in the 700 block of King Street was targeted. In that incident, the suspect broke a window to gain entry before damaging the steering column and wiring.
Between March 11 and March 15, a vehicle parked in the 5900 block of Hague Crescent was entered, with the steering column smashed and wiring damaged.
On March 15, police received a report of an attempted theft from a garage in the 6200 block of Ehrle Crescent. The suspect unlawfully entered the garage and tried to steal the vehicle inside, causing similar damage to the steering column and wiring.
On March 30, a caller in the 100 block of McIntyre Street reported that her passenger door had been pried open, and there was damage to the ignition and wiring in the steering column.
On April 7, police were made aware of another break-in in the 1300 block of Rae Street, where a vehicle’s steering column and wiring were both damaged.
In each of the seven incidents, the suspect caused damage while trying to steal the vehicle.
The suspect has been charged with 3 counts each of mischief over $5,000 and mischief under $5,000, six counts each of failing to comply with a probation order and attempted theft of a vehicle, and break and enter with intent to commit an indictable offence.
He appeared in Regina Provincial Court on April 13.
