Alleged repeat offender held in custody after 3rd arrest while on bail, B.C. RCMP say

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An alleged repeat offender is facing charges for a series of incidents in B.C.’s Interior, some of which happened while he was on bail for other charges, according to police.

Castlegar resident Erik Larsen has been charged with breaking and entering to commit an indictable offence, theft under $5,000 and failing to comply with a condition of an undertaking, Castlegar RCMP said in a news release Friday morning.

The charges against the 46-year-old stem from incidents dating back to June of last year, though Mounties began investigating Larsen in December.

On Dec. 16, Castlegar RCMP responded to a report of a break-in at a business in the 1000 block of Columbia Avenue, where an employee had arrived for work and discovered signs of a break-in and missing property.

Mounties identified “a known local resident” as a suspect and arrested him on Dec. 19.

“He was later released from police custody on bail conditions and was scheduled to appear in Castlegar provincial court at a later date,” the release reads.

Earlier this month, on Jan. 3, officers following up on another investigation on Columbia Avenue “were advised of a theft from a motor vehicle” that had occurred back on June 25, 2025.

“The victim reported their vehicle had been entered and tools and a portable speaker were stolen,” Mounties said. “The theft had not been reported at the time. However, after believing they had identified the suspect, the victim reported the incident to police.”

After reviewing surveillance video of the June 25 theft, investigators concluded the same man arrested for the Dec. 16 break-in was responsible. They arrested him on Tuesday, but he was again released on bail conditions, including a ban on attending the property where the theft from vehicle had occurred, police said.

The following day, police received a report that the suspect had returned to the same Columbia Avenue property.

“He was observed attempting to enter a business and trying door handles on parked vehicles,” reads the RCMP release.

“Police attended and later located the suspect, arresting him for breaching his bail conditions.”

This time, Larsen “will remain in custody until these matters are concluded,” police said.

Online court records indicate he appeared in court on Wednesday and is scheduled to make his next appearance on Feb. 11.

The investigation is ongoing, and Castlegar RCMP are asking anyone with information to call them at 250-365-7721.