CRD- Regional Crime Unit:
Member Releasing: S/Sgt. Gary SCHENK (250-883-4389)
On Thursday afternoon members of the Regional Crime Unit executed a Search Warrant at a residence in the 800 block Jolly Place in Saanich and recovered a large quantity of suspected stolen property. The investigation began two days previously when a member of the Victoria Police Department received information from a male complainant who believed he had found his stolen laptop computer posted for sale on line. The male had been the victim of a theft approximately one week earlier when his vehicle was broken into overnight in the 1500 block of Hillside Avenue. He continued to monitor various used property websites until he found his laptop listed, and reported the relevant information to police.
The Regional Crime Unit initiated an investigation which culminated in the application for a search warrant. The subsequent search resulted in the recovery of the complainant’s stolen laptop computer as well as some other property stolen from his vehicle. Police also seized a quantity of other items including electronics, bicycles, luggage, and identification and are continuing the investigation to attempt to identify corresponding owners. One female and three males found inside the residence were arrested. The males are not believed to be related to the investigation at this time and have since been released. 24 year old Natasha Jean DAY has been charged with one count of Possession of Stolen Property Under $5000, and appeared in court on Friday, March 18. Additional stolen property charges are anticipated as the investigation continues.
The Regional Crime Unit is an integrated unit comprised of police officers from the Saanich Police Department, Oak Bay Police Department, Central Saanich Police Service, West Shore Detachment RCMP as well as Provincial RCMP. Since February 2008 the Regional Crime Unit has been pursuing its mandate of proactively targeting the region’s most prolific criminal offenders.