Bandit makes off with bottles before Vernon arrest

Bandit makes off with bottles before Vernon arrest

Published 1:26 pm Monday, October 19, 2026

UPDATE Oct. 19:

The bottle bandit didn’t get far.

A man was arrested just hours after allegedly breaking into Vernon’s Okanagan Spirits early Sunday, Oct. 18.

The property representative contacted police and confirmed a lone man was breaking into the business causing substantial amount of property damage.

The suspect left the scene with two bottles.

Despite the quick response of police, patrols of the area failed to locate the man or recover any of the stolen property.

“During the investigation, frontline officers viewed the video surveillance of the break-in from the business,” said Cpl. Tania Finn, Vernon North Okanagan RCMP media relations officer. “Photos of the suspect were secured and shared with other police officers in the area as well as provided a list of the stolen items.”

A few hours later, a police officer on patrol in the area located a man matching the description and carrying what appeared to be the stolen property.

When the police officer approached the suspect and advised he was under arrest, the suspect refused to comply with police direction and attempted to evade the arrest.

A second police officer responded to the scene to assist, and the suspect was arrested without further incident. Although the stolen property was recovered and seized as evidence, the items sustained damage rendering it unusable.

A 39-year-old Vernon man was taken into custody currently faces numerous criminal charges including break and enter with intent, possession of stolen property, and resisting arrest.

The incident remains under investigation.

ORIGINAL Oct. 18:

A Vernon distillery experienced a break-in early Sunday morning, where the perpetrator made off with two bottles of alcohol.

A video posted by Okanagan Spirits Craft Distillery on social media shows a man walking up to the company’s Vernon location carrying what appears to be a rock in his hand. The man proceeds to drag the rock across the establishment’s glass door, before stepping back and throwing the rock through the window to shatter the door.

Once inside, the perpetrator took two bottles of alcohol before leaving.

The distillery said the incident happened at around 4 a.m. on Oct. 18.

“Our Sunday spirits are still high… despite someone helping themselves to two proof bottles by smashing through our front door overnight. ​We’re open for business today, with a little more ventilation than usual thanks to our new ‘open concept’ entrance,” the company wrote on social media.

“A police file has been officially opened. To assist investigators and help protect neighbouring local businesses from being targeted, our family business is offering a $200 Okanagan Spirits gift certificate to the first person who provides information leading to an arrest.”