UPDATE: On May 20, Vancouver police clarified that investigators presented 70 charges to Crown for review. Thirty charges were accepted and approved by Crown against the two suspects. The story has been updated with a list of approved charges. Vancouver police say they anticipate recommending additional charges in the future.
Two chronic offenders have been charged with multiple offences related to a series of commercial break-ins over the last few months in Metro Vancouver.
The arrests of Shane Duhamel, 44, and Jesse Palanio, 33, and “will have a major impact on commercial break-ins around the city,” Vancouver police Sgt. Aaron Roed said in a statement.
Crown approved the following charges against Duhamel:13 counts of break and enter and one count of possession of break-in instruments.
Crown also approved the following charges against Palanio: six Counts of Break and Enter; two counts of identity theft; one count of deal with identity documents; one count of possession of break-in Instruments; one count of possessing prohibited weapons; two counts of breach of release orders; one count of Fraud; one count of personation with intent; and one count of Possession of Stolen Property
Police said they’ve been targeting property crimes against businesses that have had to close during the COVID-19 crisis.
Shuttered stores across Vancouver and other communities have boarded up their windows, as a drop in foot traffic has raised the prospect of crimes of opportunity.
“We are still asking businesses to move property out of view of criminals, use shutters to reduce visibility, upgrade locks and increase lighting levels to ensure the business is well-lit,” Roed said.