Vancouver Police are crediting the watchful eye of a concerned neighbour in the arrest of an alleged burglar.

Shortly after noon on Tuesday, January 26th, police received a 9-1-1 call reporting a suspicious man wandering in a Kitsilano neighbourhood. The caller provided a good description to police, met with plain-clothes officers who were nearby, and pointed out the last place the man was seen.

Officers found him and watched as he entered the front yard of a home and looked around. He walked along the east side of the residence before returning to the front yard and then back down the side of the house. The officers then heard a woman scream and saw the man running away from the rear of the home with a laptop computer in his arms.

The suspect ran for a few blocks and between houses in an attempt to flee. A police K9 officer who arrived was able to deploy his dog and assist in taking the suspect into custody.

Officers returned the stolen laptop to the victim who was understandably shaken after finding a stranger in her home.

A search of the accused upon arrest found he was also in possession of a four-inch knife.

“This is a great example of neighbours watching out for neighbours,” says VPD Constable Brian Montague. “Our officers were able to catch this person as a direct result of someone calling the police. Trust your instincts — if something doesn’t seem right, it likely isn’t. If you see something, say something, and say it to 9-1-1 first.”

Charges of break-and-enter, possession of stolen property and possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose have been recommended against the 42-year-old man with an extensive criminal history.