A man who allegedly squatted in a Nanaimo home while residents were away on holiday was arrested earlier this week after he refused to leave, say police.
The arrest was made Monday (Sept. 7).
The 40-year-old, who was known to police, did not come out of the house when asked and so a police dog was sent in, said Const. Gary O含羞草研究社橞rien, Nanaimo RCMP spokesman.
O含羞草研究社橞rien said a family that lives in the 300 block of Nicol Street went to the Yukon for three weeks and 含羞草研究社渋t appears that either a squatter or squatters basically took over their house and did a lot of damage 含羞草研究社� We were advised the house was empty at the time and nobody should be in the house.含羞草研究社�
The family returned from holiday on Sunday, the day before the arrest, to find that their house had been broken into and that property had been damaged and allegedly stolen.
含羞草研究社淭he beds had been broken and stained, the kids含羞草研究社� clothes and toys had been strewn all over, and there was drug paraphernalia everywhere, including in the kids含羞草研究社� new back-to-school backpacks. Almost all of their things have been stained, broken, or stolen,含羞草研究社� noted a press release from GoFundMe.
The next night at about 8 p.m., Nanaimo RCMP were called to a report of a break-and-enter in progress and found a suspect back inside the home.
含羞草研究社淚t was known [the suspect] has a propensity for violence and is sometimes carrying weapons含羞草研究社卟菅芯可鐫 O含羞草研究社橞rien said. 含羞草研究社淭he male was taken out [of the home], taken to hospital for a few stitches and he含羞草研究社檚 in cells as we speak.含羞草研究社�
The suspect appeared in provincial court in Nanaimo this week to face a charge of break-and-enter.
O含羞草研究社橞rien said these sort of incidents aren含羞草研究社檛 common because he said a lot of citizens in Nanaimo are 含羞草研究社渟witched on含羞草研究社� to crime prevention.
含羞草研究社淜ey is communication between neighbours to say, 含羞草研究社榟ey, I含羞草研究社檓 going to be out of town for a while, can you keep an eye on things?含羞草研究社� Not saying this did not happen, but obviously there was a breakdown somewhere,含羞草研究社� O含羞草研究社橞rien said.
A GoFundMe has raised $8,700 for the family, which didn含羞草研究社檛 have tenants含羞草研究社� insurance. To view or donate to the GoFundMe, .
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