When a woman returned to her West Hamilton home after stepping out for just 30 minutes, she found someone had broken in and stolen her panties. Worried cops issued a warning to women. Now, a 15-year-old is in custody.
HAMILTON, Ontario - A cheeky 15-year-old has been fingered as the Hamilton panty thief.
Police said they caught the teen red-handed as he was about to break into another home.
The panty thief created a buzz when a woman returned home on Oct. 23 to find that in the 30 minutes that she had stepped out, someone had broken in through the window of her home and the only items missing were her panties.
Police issued a warning that a suspect may be entering other homes and stealing female underwear.
"Police are concerned that the person(s) responsible for this entry may be involved in other similar acts, and may be targeting homes where females reside," said the police warning.
"Police are asking for the assistance of the public to be aware of any suspicious persons or circumstances," said the warning bulletin.
Police then issued an update with the surprise announcement they had a 15-year-old in custody.
"On October 27th, 2009, at approximately 5:30 p.m., a 15-year-old Hamilton youth, was arrested as he was attempting to break in to a home on Cline Ave." said a
police announcement.
"Hamilton Police believe this youth is involved in a series of entries in the West Hamilton area and are continuing to investigate," police said.
The boy has now been charged with breaking and entering and mischief under $5,000.
But there is more to the picture.
"After the arrest, Hamilton police seized from the youth a Sony Cybershot 6 camera, silver in colour, not belonging to him and believed to be taken from a break and enter," said cops.
"Images on the camera were of a hot vacation spot, possibly in the Caribbean. Hamilton Police are asking anyone who was a victim of a break and enter where a similar camera was stolen to contact D/Cst. Bushell, Division One Detectives at 905-546-3817," said a police press release.
