A pattern spotted by West Vancouver police in a series of high-end residential break-ins in 2019 helped uncover a series of high-end residential break-ins and led to the conviction of a Port Coquitlam man.
Detectives noticed a man walking a German Shepherd puppy near several homes in the days before the break-ins, a detail that proved crucial to the investigation, the West Vancouver Police Department said.
Information about the distinctive pattern was shared with police partners across the Lower Mainland, connecting it to additional break-ins in Coquitlam and Burnaby.
On Nov. 20, 2019, West Vancouver Police Department’s Target Team, together with the Coquitlam RCMP Prolific Target Team, arrested 58-year-old Michael Horyn of Port Coquitlam.
Police executed search warrants at Horyn’s residence in Port Coquitlam and a storage locker in Calgary, recovering stolen property tied to break-ins in West Vancouver, Coquitlam, and Burnaby.
On Oct. 30, 2025, Horyn was convicted of two counts of break and enter and five counts of possession of property obtained by crime. He is scheduled to be sentenced on Jan. 28, 2026, at Port Coquitlam Provincial Court.
“This case highlights the value of timely communication and coordination with our policing partners,” said Suzanne Birch, spokesperson for the West Vancouver Police Department. “Thieves should know that operating outside their own neighbourhood does not provide cover. We are committed to holding them accountable, no matter where they act.”
