The man arrested in connection with the theft of more than 150 wigs meant for child cancer patients is one of the city’s most notorious property offenders.
Martin James Weigelt, 52, has a criminal history dating back to 1987 that includes more than 100 criminal convictions. Vancouver police call him a “chronic offender.”
Investigators allege that on Sept. 7, at 3:30 a.m., Weigelt cut a hole in the wall of Eva and Co. Wigs from a neighbouring business, and made off with the expensive hairpieces made from real human hair.
WATCH: Vancouver wig theft has heartbreaking consequences
Sixty-six of the wigs were eventually recovered by police, but could not be used.
Vancouver police say Weigelt is facing break-and-enter charges and remains in custody.
Career criminal
It’s not the first time Weigelt has made headlines.
In 2009 Weigelt was charged in the theft of half a million dollars of jewelry from the Saatchi and Saatchi jewelry store after DNA evidence connected him to blood left behind on broken glass at the scene.
Back in 2006, he was at the centre of a controversy when the VPD posed for a “trophy photo” after arresting the career criminal who they alleged was casing homes in the Southlands neighbourhood.
Weigelt alleged police had also roughed him up, and four VPD members were eventually disciplined.
In 2008, Wiegelt’s name surfaced in connection with the Hollywood-style heist of millions of dollars of art by B.C. Indigenous artist Bill Reid from the UBC Museum of Anthropology.
From the Archives: Bill Reid heist connection?
The thieves disabled security cameras, bypassed alarmed doors and may have even used gas masks and bear spray to avoid detection.
Wiegelt was allegedly involved in the negotiations for the return of some of the stolen art, and reported to have received. Weigelt strongly denied any connection to the case, and RCMP later publicly denied that he had any involvement in the recovery of the art.
READ MORE: ‘A disgusting thing to do’: Wig theft devastates 8-year-old B.C. cancer patient
The Eva and Co. break-in is also not the first time Weigelt has been arrested in connection with a wig.
Back in 2007, he was busted with a number of break-in tools after being spotted riding a bike without a helmet; police said Weigelt was instead wearing a wig at the time.
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