Police are crediting the public for calling in suspicious behaviour that led to the arrest of a prolific offender downtown Chilliwack recently.
John Evan Mathew Wear, 35, faces one charge of theft under $5,000 and possession of stolen property over $5,000 for an incident on Jan. 16.
It was just after noon that day when police received a report of a man behaving suspiciously outside an apartment building in the 45000-block of Hodgins Avenue.
General duty officers arrived and were told by witnesses that he left in a black car. Investigators identified the car as stolen from the 45000-block of Spadina Avenue overnight.
As police searched, another call was made to the RCMP 15 minutes later that the car was parked in the 9300-block of Mary Street. Mounties responded with the Lower Mainland District Police Dog Service (PDS) and Wear was found in a residence in the 45000-block of Princess Avenue and arrested.
“RCMP credit observant people taking the time to contact police to report suspicious activity, combined with the immediate response by our officers, as the key leading to the arrest of the suspect,” said Chilliwack RCMP spokesperson Cpl. Mike Rail.
Wear is well-known to police with dozens of charge and convictions on his record dating back to 2004. He even has other matters still before the courts, including a Nov. 22 assault charge and a Jan. 4 breach of probation.
He remains in custody and is due in court facing all charges on Feb. 6.
RCMP reminds everyone who witnesses anything they believe to be suspicious in nature to contact the Chilliwack RCMP at 604-792-4611 or, to remain anonymous, call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS).
paul.henderson@theprogress.com
@PeeJayAitch