Police believe they may be a step closer in solving a number of east end break-ins after a home intruder left his shoes at the scene of robbery.
The suspect entered a home near Victoria Park Avenue and Queen Street at about 5 a.m. Monday morning, where he took off his shoes and began to prowl the premises, says Toronto Police Const. Tony Vella.
Vella says the homeowner heard the intruder and confronted the suspect, who ran off in his socked feet, leaving a pair of black running shoes behind.
The suspect is described as a six-foot-tall white male with dark hair and a slim build. He was wearing a three-quarter length nylon jacket with distinctive black patches on the left and right breast.
Police believe he could be the same person responsible for more than 40 night-time break-ins in the Beaches area in the past three weeks.
Police also believe the suspect was active throughout the weekend, committing break-ins during the early hours of Saturday, Sunday and Monday. They say he has moved in an easterly direction in the homes that he has targeted.
"There was no confrontation (this time)," said Sgt. Andy Kitchener of 55 Division. "But the suspect has been seen by a few people and we are concerned that there could be a confrontation."
Police are now in possession of the man's lost shoes and plan to test them for DNA evidence.
