A man is facing charges related to alleged thefts across Coquitlam, New Westminster, Burnaby and Langley. Coquitlam RCMP say stealing a cash register was a pattern in numerous thefts. Photo courtesy Coquitlam RCMP
A man with the alleged propensity for stealing cash registers is facing charges following a string of robberies across multiple jurisdictions in Metro Vancouver.
Coquitlam RCMP say a 32-year-old man of no fixed address is facing 13 charges thanks to the cooperation of four police agencies.
From Sept. 22 to Oct. 17, there were more than a dozen thefts at fast-food outlets, convenience stores and banks, with cash registers carried off by the robber. In a press release this week, Coquitlam RCMP stated they noticed similar crimes were taking place in other cities.
“In Coquitlam, we had four files in rapid succession where the suspect went straight for the cash registers. We quickly realized our files were similar to crimes happening in Langley,” said Cpl. Michael McLaughlin of Coquitlam RCMP. “We pooled our resources with Langley RCMP, Burnaby RCMP and New Westminster Police and, by Oct. 19, we had identified a suspect and made an arrest.”
Derek John Muirhead is now in custody. On Nov. 8, his charges were upgraded to include the following: five counts of robbery in Burnaby; four counts of robbery in Coquitlam; two counts of robbery in New Westminster; two counts of robbery in Langley; and one count of assault with a weapon in Langley.
The investigation is not over and more charges are possible, McLaughlin said.
Muirhead’s next court appearance is in Surrey on Nov. 15.
