Homeowner helps track down break-and-enter suspect

By JEREMY APPEL on March 13, 2020.

jappel@medicinehatnews.com@MHNJeremyAppel

Police tracked down a break-and-enter suspect Wednesday afternoon thanks to a detailed description the homeowner provided them.

Around 12:30 p.m., the Medicine Hat Police Service received a call about a break-and-enter in progress at a residence located at the 200 block of 13th Street SW.

When the cops arrived, the homeowner provided an “excellent physical description of the lone suspect, as well as the direction they ran from the home,” an MHPS news release says.

This description included the colour of his jacket and pants, as well as the fact he was wearing a distinct bag and hat, Staff Sgt. Trevor Humphries told the News.

“That’s a pretty good place to start with description and it obviously worked out, as it led us to the person within a matter of minutes,” he added.

Several officers were dispersed in the area, where they found a suspect that matched the physical description at the 1600 block of Bomford Crescent SW.

“There isn’t really any magic to it,” says Humphries. “Based on the description, members quickly saw that someone matching that description was just on the other side of the Trans Canada Highway, confronted the person and fairly quickly we realized, ‘Yeah, this is the guy.'”

The suspect attempted to “avoid apprehension but his bad luck continued” and was arrested, as per the release.

Upon searching him, police found several items that were stolen from the home in question.

A 40-year-old male faces a charge of break, enter and theft, but cannot be named until the charges are officially sworn.

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