Police have arrested two men suspected of committing more than 20 break and enters.
Members from Nanaimo RCMP's Property Crime and Crime Reduction units, plus general duty officers, moved in on a home in the 1000 block of Oakley Crescent, in central Nanaimo, at 1:15 a.m. today (Feb. 2).
Two men, ages 26 and 28, were arrested and police also seized two handguns, three passports, a laptop computer, a printer in its original packaging, Toshiba computers, a Samsung digital photo system, 50" Pioneer flat screen TV, home stereo equipment, two antique clocks, coin collections, a security system and a variety of tools.
Police suspect the property was stolen during a series of break-ins committed in central Nanaimo starting in early December.
"We believe these guys were responsible for most of the B&E's where doors were kicked in," said Const. Gary O'Brien, Nanaimo RCMP spokesman. "We're talking, conservatively, about 20 break and enters. By no means are we pinning all the B&E's [in Nanaimo] on these guys, because there are other groups working."
One of the men arrested has seven outstanding warrants originating in Alberta for various property crimes.
Both suspects were held in custody to appear in Nanaimo provincial court later today.
O'Brien said police will try to trace back the stolen items over the coming week to return them to their original owners.
Anyone with information about these incidents is asked to call Nanaimo RCMP at 250-754-2345 or contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or online at www.nanaimocrimestoppers.com.