Police say a man who tried to rob a Saanich home got more than he bargained for when a homeowner gave chase and tackled him to the ground.
The attempted theft happened Tuesday night at a home near University Heights and is one of 14 break and enters in the area since late November, according to police.
The resident returned home to find an unknown man stealing items and chased the thief outside of the home, tackling him and causing him to drop most of the stolen goods.
The suspect then ran away and officers along with a canine unit tried to track him down, but were unsuccessful.
He’s described as a white man between 30 and 50 years old, shorter than six feet, with an average build and full beard.
Police said they can’t confirm whether that incident is linked to a string of break-ins, but noted most of them happened on the ground floor of apartments, townhomes and single family homes, and most involved unlocked doors.
Homeowners are advised not to approach an intruder and call 911 if they encounter a break and enter in progress.
Anyone with information on the break-ins is asked to call Saanich Police at 250-475-4321 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.
