A Port Coquitlam man who stole lottery tickets, alcohol and cash from stores across Metro Vancouver will spend seven years in prison.
Anthony Robert Bakker pleaded guilty to 21 charges, including 18 counts of robberies and three counts of theft last week in Port Coquitlam Provincial Court.
“As a result of a collaborative police investigation between Ridge Meadows RCMP’s street enforcement unit and Coquitlam RCMP’s robbery section, Mr. Bakker will be off our streets for a good period of time,” said Cpl. Alanna Dunlop, with Ridge Meadows RCMP.
The big break in the case occurred when Bakker was arrested Jan. 4 by Coquitlam RCMP just after he robbed a liquor store in Port Coquitlam.
Investigators then managed to link the 37-year-old to similar cases in Burnaby, Coquitlam, Port Coquitlam, Maple Ridge and Pitt Meadows.
Police eventually searched Bakker’s home and seized a loot of stolen lottery tickets, wine and beer as evidence.
Bakker was charged in connection with 10 robberies and two thefts that took place in Coquitlam and PoCo, six robberies in Pitt Meadows and Maple Ridge, and two robberies in Burnaby.
“Police hope this arrest and conviction assist the traumatized victims of Bakker’s crime spree,” Dunlop added.
Bakker was sentenced Wednesday Sept. 11 to seven years and 114 days in prison. He also received a lifetime firearms ban.
