Ridge Meadows RCMP are investigating a string of break-and-enters that targeted three stores in downtown Maple Ridge early Thursday in a span of two hours.
The first break-in took place in the 22300-block of Lougheed Highway.
A glass front door to a small restaurant was smashed. Although nothing was stolen, police said the break-in caused significant damage to the restaurant.
A bakery on 224th Street was targeted next. The thieves managed to enter the bakery by breaking a lock and stole food.
The third break-in took place on Lougheed Hwy. near 225th Street.
Thieves smashed through a glass door and managed to steal a quantity of cash from the business.
All three break-ins happened between 1 a.m. and 3 a.m.
• Anyone with information is asked to call RCMP at 604-463-6251.
Good eyes
A 29-year-old man from Surrey was arrested early Wednesday for stealing from a car parked in Maple Ridge.
Around 12:30 a.m., a neighbour spotted the man getting into the car on 215th Street and run off with a plastic container.
Police received a good description of the man and officers quickly found him two streets away.
During the arrest, stolen items were recovered, along with tools thieves use to break into cars and homes.
Cpl. Alanna Dunlop said the man was violating a probation order by being in possession of the tools.
Teen hero
A 17-year-old boy helped retrieve a purse on Tuesday that was stolen from a woman inside a Maple Ridge mall.
The purse was snatched off a table in the food court of Haney Place Mall around 1:30 p.m.
The thief quickly ran out through a door near the Greg Moore Youth Centre but was pursued by the teen after he saw the victim chasing after her.
The teen managed to stop the woman who had stolen the purse but she fled down a sidewalk towards 224th Street.
Ridge Meadows RCMP are praising the teen for his “quick action.”
Police were contacted but patrols failed to locate the woman who stole the purse.
She is described as a woman between 40-50 years old, 5-7 and weighed around 110 pounds.
She has blond shoulder length hair with a bit of grey in it and was wearing a cream coloured button-up coat with a red hoodie under it and blue jeans.
Drunk drivers
The Christmas Counter Attack blitz took two more drunk drivers off the road this week.
Around 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, a 44-year-old man from Coquitlam was arrested after breath samples from him were analysed at more than twice the legal limit.
The second driver was pulled over for driving erratically around 3:15 a.m. Thursday on Lougheed Highway in Maple Ridge. Police allege the 24-year-old woman from Maple Ridge was found to be 1.5 times the legal limit.
Both drivers were released from police custody but have to return to court to face charges of impaired driving.
“Driving while your ability is impaired by either alcohol, or drugs is a criminal offence,” said Sgt. Dale Somerville, who is in charge of Ridge Meadows traffic section.
“All police officers in British Columbia are constantly on the lookout for drunk drivers. If you decide to drink alcohol, please have a plan to get a safe ride home.”
Chain reaction
A 41-year-old Maple Ridge man was charged with driving without due car and attention for causing a crash on Tuesday.
Police said the crash happened around 5:30 p.m. on Lougheed Highway at Allen Way in Pitt Meadows.
Three cars had stopped for a traffic light at the intersection when the man failed to break in time, striking the car in front of him and causing a chain reaction that resulted in three vehicles being towed off scene.
No one was injured.
Shoplifter
A 49-year-old woman from Port Coquitlam was arrested in Pitt Meadows on Tuesday for attempting to steal $800 in groceries from a Pitt Meadows store.
A loss prevention officer from the Real Canadian Superstore held the woman until police arrived.
On arrival, officers noted woman was wanted on a warrant for a similar offence in Burnaby.
She was held overnight for a court appearance on Wednesday.