A man is facing break-and-enter charges after attempting to evade police by hiding inside a restaurant during the early morning hours.

On September 5, at approximately 2:20 a.m., two witnesses approached a New Westminster Police Department officer to report a possible break-and-enter in progress at a restaurant in the area of 10th Street and Carnarvon Street. Upon arriving at the scene, officers observed broken glass and saw a masked individual inside the business.

Additional officers attended and established containment around the property. Over the course of the investigation, officers made numerous announcements directing the suspect to surrender. Police also deployed a drone and conducted a search with a Police Service Dog; however, the suspect was not immediately located.

Officers subsequently entered the restaurant to conduct a secondary search and discovered the suspect hiding in a small crawl space above the kitchen area. The suspect was taken into custody without incident and arrested for break-and-enter.

“This arrest is a testament to the determination and teamwork of the officers involved,” said Sgt. Andrew Leaver. “The suspect went to considerable lengths to avoid detection, but our officers remained committed to conducting a thorough search and bringing the incident to a safe conclusion.”

The accused was held in custody pending a bail hearing.