A Mr. Big undercover operation was used to help catch a man Crown prosecutors say committed a series of crimes in West Vancouver, Squamish and Surrey in 2012.
Thomas Bert Prins, 27, is on trial in B.C. Supreme Court in New Westminster for two counts of armed robbery, two counts of having his face masked with intent to commit an offence, break and enter, possessing a firearm without a licence or registration and uttering threats. The trial began on Tuesday.
It’s alleged that on the night of May 28, 2012, a B.C. Ferries employee who was checking out a suspicious person around the cash office at the Horseshoe Bay ferry terminal in West Vancouver was approached by Prins. Prins allegedly had his face covered and was armed with a gun.
The employee was ordered back into the building and cash was demanded. When the assailant was told there was no money, he fled.
The incident was captured on surveillance video.
Prins is also accused of breaking into a Shell gas station in Squamish the same week.
On June 7, 2012, a man had his vehicle, keys, wallet and cellphone stolen by a masked man armed with a gun at Fraser Golf Centre in Surrey. Prosecutors say Prins was the assailant.
A lengthy undercover operation was launched involving an officer who was placed in a jail cell with Prins who also made contact when the two were out of custody. Prosecutors say Prins made admissions to that officer. Prins also allegedly handed over a gun he had been carrying illegally.
The charge of uttering threats came from a statement Prins is accused of making to an undercover officer regarding a Crown witness.
Prins was charged in January 2013.
The trial is scheduled to last three weeks.
