Whistler RCMP this week used a search dog to locate a man they believe was responsible for a break-and-enter at a ski and snowboard shop in Whistler Village — and may have been the culprit in several other commercial break-ins last week.

Police received a call on Tuesday (Aug. 24) at 3:44 a.m. about a break-in in progress at a ski and snowboard shop. They spotted a man fleeing the scene and pursued him into a wooded area nearby, Whistler RCMP Staff Sgt. Steve LeClair said.

They then called in a tracking dog and let the animal sniff the man’s last known location to pick up the scent. Moments later, with the dog’s help, they located the man and arrested him.

The suspect, a 32-year-old from Vancouver, was under court order from a previous court case not to be found in Whistler. He faces a charge of break and enter and breach of conditions and was set to appear in North Vancouver Provincial Court on Wednesday (Aug. 25).

The police investigation includes a probe into a possible connection between the suspect and a spree of break-ins that occurred last week. For example:

• Last Thursday (Aug. 19) at 4:45 a.m., someone broke the locks of six storage lockers along Alpha Lake Road in Function Junction. Surveillance video shows a truck departing from the scene, LeClair said. Stolen were a number of items including stereos, barbecues and stools.

• On Thursday at 6 a.m., police received a report about two stolen electric Ultra Motor-brand bicycles valued at $3,300 each from a parkade storage area used by a Whistler business. A suspect’s image was captured on surveillance video, LeClair said.

• On Thursday at 7:22 a.m., an alarm alerted a witness to a break-in in progress at a restaurant on Main Street. The witness saw a male leaving the scene. The culprit or culprits used a blunt instrument to break through a wooden door, LeClair said. Stolen were six dummy Remy cognac bottles with water inside (no value) and two computer towers and monitors ($2,000 value), LeClair said.

‘We’re investigating the possibility that it may be the same culprit” in all three incidents, he said.

Fraud suspect sought

Police are seeking a man in connection with an alleged fraud perpetrated on local banks last week, so far resulting in the acquisition of some $30,000.

Local RCMP officers were first alerted to the situation last Friday (Aug. 20). In each instance, a man walked into a local bank branch and opened an account under a false name. He then deposited fraudulent cheques into the account, then withdrew money through the automated teller machine (ATM), LeClair said.

The suspect is approximately 5 feet, 5 inches tall, of Hispanic or First Nations descent, with dark hair and brown eyes, and speaks with an accent. His image was captured on surveillance video, LeClair said.

Anyone with information about his whereabouts is asked to call Whistler RCMP at (604) 932-3044 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS).

Three arrested at hotel

On Saturday (Aug. 22) at midnight, a woman booked two rooms at the same Whistler hotel using a Mastercard gift card that appeared to have been altered. After the suspect left, a hotel employee checked the card and determined that the number didn’t exist, LeClair said.

Police were called and executed a search warrant on the two rooms. They collected evidence and arrested three suspects — a woman, 35, from Richmond; a woman, 40, from Surrey; and a man, 39, from Delta.

The three had been under court order from a previous case not to have contact with one another. All face charges of breach of an undertaking, while the Richmond woman also faces a charge of possession of counterfeit credit cards, LeClair said.

Assault suspect sought

Police are seeking a suspect in an alleged assault that occurred at a house party early Saturday (Aug. 21) in Alpine Meadows.

Residents called police after a 17-year-old male was allegedly assaulted, suffering a bruised left eye and a chipped tooth. The suspect, who was not known to party-goers, assaulted the teen and also damaged a vehicle outside, LeClair said. Police are investigating.

On Saturday at around 1:20 a.m., police conducted a licence permit check at a local nightclub and found the club to be over its licenced capacity by approximately 35 patrons. In such instances, B.C. liquor inspectors receive a report of the alleged violation and determine the appropriate sanctions, LeClair said. The operator has a right to a hearing if he/she feels the violation, or the penalty, are unfair, he said.