Thunder Bay Police Service offices with the Uniform Patrol Branch were dispatched shortly after 3:15 a.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 24 following reports of a suspicious male entering multiple vehicles in the area of Bay and Secord Streets.
Officers were on Ontario Street when they located an individual matching the description of the suspicious male. An officer exited the cruiser and attempted to speak to the man, but after identifying himself as a police officer the suspect fled on foot.
Officers caught up with the male a short distance away.
The accused was found to be in possession of stolen property, at which point officers arrested him.
A 23-year-old Thunder Bay man is charged with Possession of Property Obtained by Crime Under $5,000, and Breach of Probation x 2.
He is scheduled to appear in bail court today.
Car hopping is a term that describes the act of stealing items from multiple vehicles in the same area. Would-be thieves typically go from car to car checking if the doors are locked. When a door is unlocked the thief then goes through the vehicle in search for valuables.
This is a crime of opportunity, and the Thunder Bay Police Service would like to remind the public that locking their vehicle doors and keeping valuables out of sight is a strong defence against car hopping.
If you observe suspicious activity, please call police. If you have been the victim of car hopping, consider making a report via the Thunder Bay Police Service’s online reporting tool: https://thunderbaypolice.ca/key-services/services/online-reporting