A car thief operating on the North Shore has been found guilty in provincial court.
Thomas Richard Smith, a 46-year-old Burnaby resident, was found guilty Tuesday of several charges related to an auto theft one year ago.
Smith was under tight surveillance by North Vancouver RCMP's property crime unit in the early morning of Feb. 1, 2012, under suspicion he was involved in auto crimes.
Undercover officers followed Smith from his home in Burnaby to the upper Lonsdale area and stood back has he broke into and stole a Honda Accord. He then fled the scene at high speed.
Using the Lower Mainland RCMP's air services helicopter, officers tracked Smith back to his Burnaby home where North Vancouver members arrested him.
A judge found Smith guilty of charges of theft of a motor vehicle, dangerous operation of a motor vehicle and possession of stolen property.
"This successful arrest is a result of our targeted, strategic crime reduction initiative," said Cpl. Richard De Jong, spokesman for the North Vancouver RCMP in a press release.
The judge found Smith not guilty on one count of mischief.
Smith is due back in court on April 15 for a pre-sentence report at which time Crown counsel and Smith will make submissions to the judge on what an appropriate sentence should be.
