A patrol shortly before 4 a.m. Tuesday paid off when a Mountie spotted a car parked near an apartment complex on Cypress Avenue.
Several recent break and enters and thefts had been reported from the area where suspects had broken into apartment buildings, stolen money from coin operated washers and dryers and burglarized several apartments and storage rooms.
A check of the parked vehicle revealed it had been stolen in Nanaimo Dec. 6 and a Nanaimo man, 25, and a female, 17, in the car were arrested for possession of stolen property.
A search of the vehicle turned up items stolen during a break and enter and theft Dec. 21, and police were able to return some of the property, including jewellery to its owner who had put identifying marks on the items.
Police now say the suspects could be responsible for at least four other break and enters and thefts around Nanaimo.
The teen was released, but the male suspect was held in custody and is scheduled to appear in Nanaimo provincial court Wednesday (Dec. 24).
Police are reminding people to mark down serial numbers, put identifying marks on items that don't have serial numbers and make a photographic record of all valuables.