By Tim Petruk
Kamloops This Week
Two Kamloops-area men are facing a half-dozen burglary charges out of Sun Peaks — and police hope it will put an end to the recent rash of break-ins in the mountain resort community.
Jamie Koivisto and Jesse Tucker have both been charged with five counts of break and enter and a single count of possessing break-in instruments.
Kamloops RCMP Staff Sgt. Doug Aird said police arrested two men in Sun Peaks at about 4:30 a.m. on Dec. 8, after the pair was busted removing valuables from an unoccupied townhouse complex in the village.
“The culprits gained entry into the residences through basement windows and proceeded to place stolen items in a vehicle that they drove to the area,” he said.
“A number of stolen items were recovered during the arrests and police are in the process of determining ownership.”
Investigators believe the duo burgled at least five separate residences in the hours before the arrests.
Mounties think the men could be responsible for a recent spate of break-ins in Sun Peaks.
“Residents of the area have been hit hard this year, with approximately 60 break-and-enters occurring in the past several months,” Aird said.
“The culprits responsible were targeting flat-screen television sets, electronic items and other items of value.”
Investigators believe the total value of the items stolen and damage to properties is in the tens of thousands of dollars.
The break-ins have prompted Sun Peaks council to consider contracting a private security firm to patrol the village.
The community is served by the Kamloops Rural RCMP detachment, which is based on the T’Kemlups Indian Band. Rural Mounties do not maintain a constant presence on the mountain, and are often about 40 minutes away when calls come in.
Koivisto, a 23-year-old from Cherry Creek who is well-known to police in Kamloops, remains in custody. He had a bail hearing scheduled for Monday, Dec. 12.
Tucker, who is from Kamloops, is expected to make his first court appearance on Jan. 12.
The 20-year-old was released from police custody on a number of conditions shortly after his arrest.
Aird said the investigation is ongoing, and police expect more charges to be laid against the pair as more evidence is gathered.