A criminal case tied to a string of mail and identity thefts stretching across the Lower Mainland could be wound up in Vancouver Provincial Court by year's end.
Vancouver Police Department officers arrested Mark Andrew Sarsfield in January.
He has been charged with:
- three counts of breaking and entering with intent to commit an indictable offense;
- three counts of theft from mail;
- two breaches of a probation order;
- two counts of identity theft;
- four counts of possession of stolen mail, mail container or key;
- one count of assault;
- two counts of possession of a firearm without licence or registration, and possession of a firearm contrary to an order.
The alleged offences occurred all over the Lower Mainland, including Vancouver, Coquitlam, Maple Ridge, New Westminster, Abbotsford, Richmond and Langley. There are also charges connected with allegations from Burnaby.
In January of this year, the Burnaby RCMP released a video compilation of thieves gaining access to apartment buildings and breaking into several mailboxes. The thefts took place in December 2018 and January 2019.
The case involved the RCMP's prolific offender suppression team and resulted in at least four other people facing charges related to similar situations throughout the Lower Mainland.
Sarsfield's lawyer Dale Melville told Judge Ellen Gordon there are ongoing discussions leading toward a disposition in the case.
He will return to court on Dec. 11 for a joint prosecution and defence submission prior to sentencing, court heard on Nov. 23.
