A 25-year-old Ottawa man is facing charges in connection to at least 17 break and enters in the city's south end. Police say he may be responsible for dozens more.
The break-ins occurred during the day in isolated areas of Greely, Osgoode and Manotick.
Paul Hansen was arrested when the Ottawa police Guns and Gangs Unit executed a search warrant at his home on Wellington Street on an unrelated matter July 23. Police would not say what they were searching for.
Once inside the home, officers apparently found several items that were reported stolen from various homes over the last month.
Among the items recovered are jewelry, old coin collections and some letters dating back from the early 1900s. In some cases, police have no way of figuring out who those items belong to.
Hansen is charged with 17 counts of break and enter and theft, five counts of possessing stolen property and 17 counts of failing to comply with recognizance.
Police say their investigation is ongoing, and they expect more charges to be laid.
Police are currently trying to determine if the case is linked to a string of break-ins in the city's west end. Ontario Provincial Police are also checking to see if there are any similarities to break-ins outside Ottawa.
Anyone with information about the break-ins is asked to contact Ottawa police at 613-236-1222, ext. 3515 or Crime Stoppers at 613-233-8477 (TIPS).
