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Would-be copper thief mistaken for a rat

The suspect is described a 5'10 and 220 pounds. He was wearing a brown jacket and a toque.

An employee at a warehouse on Blanshard Street thought noises he heard were a rat scratching at the building's siding. He was startled to find the sounds were being made by a man trying to break into the building.

The man was confronted by the employee around 2:30 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 5. The suspect immediately fled, riding away on a bike.

Saanich police say the siding of the building had been pulled back and a hole was made in the wall. The man left behind a large bag filled with copper tubing, as well as some tools used to break-in.

The suspect is described a 5'10 and 220 pounds. He was wearing a brown jacket and a toque.

"Be mindful that these copper thieves are at work in our community. They target businesses that have copper materials, as well as power, TV, and phone lines," said Sgt. Dean Jantzen.

Anyone with information about this incident is asked to call Saanich police at 250-475-4321.

kslavin@saanichnews.com