A man believed responsible for at least 10 recent Nanaimo car thefts has been arrested.
Jesse Savidant, 24, was picked up in Saanich Dec. 31, by Saanich police who caught him driving a stolen car.
Throughout the month of December and the first eight days of January, 44 vehicles were stolen in the Nanaimo area. Police are accusing Savidant of being responsible for at least 10 of those, plus numerous other criminal offences committed across central and south Vancouver Island.
Savidant is facing 17 charges ranging from breaking and entering, theft of a motor vehicle, possession of break in tools and breach of probation.
Investigations, currently underway in Nanaimo, Parksville, Port Alberni and Saanich could result in further charges.
Const. Gary O'Brien, Nanaimo RCMP spokesman, said investigators believe Savidant would allegedly steal a car by punching a lock, breaking a window, forcing open a door or just take advantage of a vehicle left unlocked, use it to commit a criminal offence and then drive it to a different town where he would steal another vehicle and continue the crime cycle.
O'Brien said Savidant is just one of many car thieves operating in Nanaimo at any given time and advises vehicle owners to keep cars locked at all times and report suspicious activity to police immediately.
Savidant has been held in custody to appear in court Wednesday (Jan. 15).