A Port Coquitlam girl is treasuring the return of her beloved teddy bear that went missing when her father's vehicle was stolen from Port Coquitlam's Hyde Creek recreation centre recently.
The theft was part of a string of more than a dozen similar incidents between Nov. 17 and Dec. 7 in which someone broke into multiple lockers at the rec centre and stole wallets, vehicle keys and access fobs.
According to Coquitlam RCMP the stolen keys and fobs were then used to steal vehicles from the parking lot while credit and debit cards were used to make purchases before they could be cancelled.
On Dec. 7, Prolific Target Team members spotted one of the stolen cars being driven on Ford Road in Pitt Meadows and arrested the driver.
When a search warrant was executed for a home on the same street, police found a new iPhone 6, an iPod, a 2014 Acura TL and a 2012 Ducati motorcycle; a 2005 Dodge Durango was recovered separately.
PoCo's Virgil Roatis got his iPod back but asked police if his daughter's teddy bear had also turned up — the Mounties were able to return to the home to retrieve it.
Police are in the process of returning the other items to various owners.
Walter Stanley Bailey, a 42-year-old Pitt Meadows resident, was charged with theft and possession of stolen property over $5,000. Additional charges, including fraud, possession of break and enter instruments, possession of stolen property and break and enter with intent are also being recommended.
Bailey remains in custody and his next scheduled court appearance is tomorrow (Thursday). Anyone who believes they have been a victim of a similar crime is asked to call police at 604-945-1550.
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