After receiving a third report of a prowler in the neighbourhood, police officers in an unmarked cruiser decided to sit and wait for the culprit.
Sure enough, just a little after 11 p.m. on April 27, the officers watched silently as a man dressed in dark clothing creeped through the shadows near the corner of the Elk River Timber (ERT) and Evergreen roads.
On the previous two occasions when police arrived in the neighbourhood, the prowler had fled on foot to the woods surrounding the ERT road which is permanently closed to motor vehicle traffic.
But this time they would be patient.
According to Crown prosecutor David Fitzsimmons, the officers saw the culprit moving through the shadows as he approached a home in the 1300 block of Evergreen.
And when he approached the front porch and a security light came on, he “skillfully” moved back into the shadows.
But the light also awoke the residents who looked outside and spotted the culprit trying to open the doors on their vehicle.
When the male resident went outside to confront the thief, that’s when the awaiting police officers also made their move.
Morgan Green was arrested at the scene and has remained in custody since then.
On Monday in Campbell River provincial court, Green appeared by video from jail in Victoria.
He was appearing for a bail hearing, but did not have a lawyer and declined to have legal representation.
Fitzsimmons asked for Green’s detention based on his four-page criminal record that includes convictions for break and enter, theft, possession of stolen property, and nine for breaching court orders.
When Judge Brian Saunderson asked Green if he had anything to say, Green simply replied “no.”
As a result, the judge ordered his detention, but then Green entered guilty pleas to attempted theft and trespassing at night.
However, he also pleaded not guilty to possession of stolen goods.
During his arrest, police found an iPod on Green that had been stolen from vehicle in Victoria.
As a result of the guilty pleas, Judge Saunderson sentenced Green to 48 days jail, taking into account the time he’s already served.
Green is due back in court, by video, on May 16, to set a trial date for possession of stolen property.