The Vancouver Police recently arrested something of a known quantity in a “chronic offender” with 115 prior convictions on his record. Francis Boivin (50) was nabbed on December 28, 2022 after a call from the Vancouver Fine Art Gallery in the South Granville area about a “known thief” walking in and making off with a sculpture worth $7,000.
Vancouver ‘Chronic Offender’ with 115 Prior Convictions Arrested After Stealing Art Pieces Worth Almost $40K
Authorities knew who the suspect was from surveillance footage and had several encounters with him in the past. Those encounters resulted in 115 convictions over the years and now Boivin was active again.. Even though Boivin was long gone after stealing the piece, the Vancouver Police simply headed to his home in eastern Vancouver.
They wouldn’t have to stake out the house long before Boivin arrived with the pilfered piece in his possession. With enough reason to root around his house, officers executed a search warrant and discovered another piece of stolen, pricey art.
As it turns out, the 50-year-old stole the first sculpture—worth $30,000—while the director of the gallery was busy with a customer. Both pieces are by Rudolf Sokolovski, a Ukrainian artist staying in Canada.
Francis Boivin was charged with two counts of theft over $5,000. Sgt. Steve Addison of the Vancouver PD said of the arrest:
“Anytime we’re able to get somebody like this, catch them in the act, recover the property, obtain criminal charges on somebody, it’s a good thing.”
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