Calgary police lay 183 charges against 'prolific' car prowling suspect

A Calgary man faces 183 criminal charges in connection with a string of car prowlings that started in May.

David Arthur Daniels, 59, is accused of breaking into scores of vehicles parked in several parks — including North and South Glenmore parks, Fish Creek Provincial Park, Heritage Park and the Bragg Creek area — and stealing cash and credit cards from wallets and purses, police said in a release.

He would then quickly use the stolen credits cards at nearby stores before they were reported as stolen, police said.

"For one person to face 183 Criminal Code charges of this type is quite unusual," said Staff Sgt. Mark England.

"These offences occurred during the day at popular parking lots for our city's pathway systems. We can't be complacent — even with many passersby, these kinds of crimes still occur. This operation, in particular, highlights how prolific and impactful one person can be."

While only a few of the victims reported the car prowlings, dozens of others were identified as part of the investigation.

"Reporting is important because it helps us identify patterns of behaviour," said England.