Security guard provides key tip in arrest of crime spree suspect

A security guard is getting credit for calling police after seeing a suspicious looking man parked in a pickup truck in the Orchard Park parking lot.

That led to the arrest of a 33-year-old man who police say was found with property and evidence that tied him to several recent break-ins and thefts.

On February 19, just after 10 p.m., a resident of the 2400-block of Pandosy Street in Kelowna reported that he had interrupted a man breaking into his studio behind his residence. The man had fled the area in a stolen grey Tahoe.

The victim reported that several paintings and personal items were stolen in the break and enter.

On February 20 at approximately 1:30 a.m., Kelowna RCMP were notified that someone was breaking into vehicles in the 1700-block of Chapman Place in Kelowna. Frontline officers flooded the area but the suspect fled in the same stolen Tahoe.

Just after 6 a.m., West Kelowna RCMP responded to a residential break and enter in the 1100-block of Lynden Road. An unknown person had entered the residence and stolen numerous items including a laptop, jewelry, personal items, and a Ford F150.

At 9:30 a.m., a resident in the 500-block of Broadway Ave in Kelowna returned home to find two people in her backyard. They fled in a blue Ford F150. The resident advised they had broken into her shed and stolen three bikes and some tools.

Later that day, the security guard at Orchard Park Mall spotted the suspicious looking man parked in a blue F150 in the parking lot and contacted the police who flooded the area and took a man into custody.

“As a result of this investigation, BC Prosecution Services has laid charges of break and enter, theft of a motor vehicle, obstruct a peace officer, mischief, possession of stolen property under $5000, disguise with intent, and possession of break and enter tools,” said RCMP Cpl. Jocelyn Noseworthy.

Kelowna resident Shawn Bell has been remanded into custody.