Man arrested quickly after commercial break-in

FORT ST. JOHN, B.C. — A man was swiftly arrested Tuesday after a break-and-enter alarm went off at a business in Fort St. John, according to the RCMP.

Fort St. John RCMP responded to the alarm from a business in the area of 9803 93rd Avenue around 11:14 p.m.

Frontline officers arrived and found the glass door and the front glass display windows had been smashed. The police noticed the displays were disorganized, and all the merchandise appeared to be taken, said the RCMP.

Officers obtained a description of a single suspect and found them by Mathews Park 20 minutes later possessing the stolen items from the business.

Justin Collins was arrested and held for court, as he was in breach of probation and release orders.

BC Crown Prosecution Services approved charges of break and enter, theft under $5,000, possession of property obtained by crime, mischief under $5,000, failure to comply with a probation order and breach of a release order.

“The quick initial response and the diligent follow-up search by the Fort St John RCMP enabled us to find and arrest this man and bring him before the courts in this matter,” said Constable Chad Neustaeter, Media Relations Officer for the Fort St John RCMP.

Police say the courts have remanded Collins until March 27th, 2023.