Vancouver Police arrest Kitsilano burglar with help of vigilant neighbour

Vancouver Police are thanking a vigilant neighbour for reporting suspicious activity, which ultimately led to the arrest of an alleged burglar.

According to a release, a man was seen wandering in a residential neighbourhood in Kitsilano just after noon on Tuesday. Plain-clothes officers met the 9-1-1 caller, who provided a detailed description and the location of where the man was last spotted.

The man was later found casing the house, pacing between the front yard and the side of the house. Officers heard a scream and witnessed the man running away from the rear of the home with a laptop computer.

Police pursued the man, who ran several blocks and between houses. A K9 dog eventually arrived in the area and was able to assist with the arrest of the suspect – a 42-year-old man with an extensive criminal history. Upon arrest, officers found a four-inch knife in his possession.

“This is a great example of neighbours watching out for neighbours,” said VPD Constable Brian Montague in a statement. “Our officers were able to catch this person as a direct result of someone calling the police. Trust your instincts – if something doesn’t seem right, it likely isn’t. If you see something, say something, and say it to 9-1-1 first.”

The stolen laptop was returned to the shaken woman who found a stranger in her home.