Saanich police believe the same person may be responsible for a rash of thefts in the municipality since the beginning of May.
Between May 1 and May 10, police were advised of 32 thefts from automobiles – half of which occurred in the Lakehill and Saanich Road areas of Saanich.
Residents confronted a male suspect in separate incidents on May 7 and 8, and the descriptions of the man are quite similar, police say.
On May 7, police were called to the 900-block of Londonderry Rd. after a man was found sleeping in a vehicle that wasn't his. A resident woke the man up and confronted him, but he came out of the car with his fists up and then ran away.
He left his cellphone in the vehicle, which is now in the hands of investigators.
A suspect was also confronted the next day in the 4300-block of Harder Rd. after an area resident heard someone going through vehicles.
He called police and confronted the suspect, who then lunged at the resident and sprayed him with pepper spray. The resident punched the suspect in the face before he fled.
Saanich police are looking for a man with a dark complexion, approximately 5 foot-5 or 5-foot-6 tall with short, dark hair. He was wearing sweat pants and a grey coat.
Police are asking anyone with information on the suspect or these crimes to call 250-475-4321.
kslavin@saanichnews.com