DNA leads to break and enter arrest

Sarnia Police have arrested a man on break-and-enter charges based on DNA he left on a pop can. A family in the 1400 block of Lakeshore Road was out for a walk around 10 p.m. on Oct. 22 when a stranger approached and asked for a cigarette.

Sarnia Police have arrested a man on break-and-enter charges based on DNA he left on a pop can.

A family in the 1400 block of Lakeshore Road was out for a walk around 10 p.m. on Oct. 22 when a stranger approached and asked for a cigarette.

After they returned home, the family checked surveillance video and discovered the stranger had entered their garage. Inside, they found a hammer and an open can of soda that was left behind.

Both items belonged to a neighbour, whose garage had also been broken into, Police said.

The Centre for Forensic Science linked DNA on the open can to a known offender, and he was arrested Dec. 16 for break and enter and breaching probation.

The man, 25, was released and awaits a court date.