A prolific offender has been arrested and charged with two recent commercial break and enters which occurred in Mission.
On March 28, 41-year-old Mission resident Steven Peter Klassen was located by police behind a business on 1st Ave.
When questioned by police, Klassen attempted to run but was arrested a short distance away on Railway Ave.
Klassen was charged with numerous offences including Obstruction of a Peace Officer and Fail to Comply with Bail Conditions.
At the time of his arrest, Klassen was a suspect in several commercial break and enters which have occurred in the last several months in Mission.
The Mission RCMP Prolific Offender Suppression Team (POST) has also charged him with two counts of break and enter. Those charges relate to break and enters at a Pizza shop in January and a Sushi restaurant in March.
Both businesses were located between the 32000 and 32400 block of Lougheed Hwy.
Klassen is considered a prolific offender with an extensive criminal record including 33 previous convictions for break and enter offences. POST investigators are continuing to investigate other similar break and enters and will be laying additional charges if sufficient evidence is obtained.
Klassen appeared in Abbotsford Provincial court on Tuesday, March 29 and was remanded in custody.
“This is an excellent example of how focusing police resources on prolific offenders is effective in our efforts to reduce crime in Mission,” said Mission RCMP, Insp. Ted De Jager.