14 vehicles, 2 businesses damaged in New Westminster, B.C., crime spree

A stock image of broken glass. (Pexels/Lisa)

Police in New Westminster, B.C., say a suspect has been arrested after more than a dozen vehicles were damaged in an overnight vandalism spree in the city’s West End neighbourhood.

Officers were called to the 1500 block of Dublin Street at approximately 11:45 p.m. Tuesday after a car alarm sounded, alerting the owner to the vehicle’s smashed window.

According to police, witnesses at the scene reported seeing someone riding a bicycle down the street and breaking car windows.

“Officers flooded the area but were unable to locate the suspect at that time,” the New Westminster Police Department said in a news release Thursday.

Approximately two hours later, police were called to a business on 12th Street, where the owner reported seeing a man on a bicycle kicking the glass out of the front window, police said.

Police responded and were able to locate and arrest a suspect near the intersection of Edinburgh and Henley streets.

“This kind of behaviour is purely destructive and completely senseless,” Sgt. Andrew Leaver of the NWPD said in a statement.

“We understand how upsetting it is for people to find their property damaged. We’re asking anyone whose vehicle or property was vandalized to reach out so we can piece together the full extent of what happened.”

Investigators say 14 vehicles had their windows smashed during the crime spree and two businesses were similarly damaged.

Anyone with information or additional reports of property damage from Tuesday night is asked to contact the New Westminster Police Department at 604-525-5411.