One man has been arrested after breaking into the BC Professional Fire Fighters’ Burn Fund office and stealing laptops and a safe on January 12.
The arrest came after investigators seized office surveillance video that showed a suspect who was recognized from previous break-ins, as well as a stolen Mercedes leaving the area after the break-in.
Officers located the suspect driving the Mercedes two days after the incident, and with the assistance of a VPD Canine Unit, were able to arrest him when he parked it in Richmond. Various pieces of the stolen property were recovered as well.
And for the suspect, 35-year-old Vancouver resident Matthew Robert Barber, the incident is the latest in a string of break-and-enters that began in late December 2016.
Investigators looked into other crimes in the area, and based on the information collected, they believed one person was responsible for several break-ins.
All told, Barber is facing 10 charges related to alleged break-ins at four Vancouver businesses.
The offences include:
- Four counts of break and enter,
- Three counts of possession of property obtained by crime,
- Possession of property obtained by crime – vehicle,
- Possession of break-in instruments and mischief.
Barber was scheduled to appear in Provincial Court Tuesday morning.
Detectives continue to look at potential links between these offences, and other thefts in the city.