The man accused of keying more than 65 cars in Burnaby last November will be spending some time behind bars following a sentencing hearing last week.
Coquitlam resident Soo Yo Kim pled guilty in New Westminster provincial court to one count of mischief to property over $5,000, according to a release from New Westminster police.
The 37-year-old was sentenced to three months in jail and three years probation for vandalizing 66 cars in Burnaby and 63 cars in New West in November, and more than 100 cars in Coquitlam last spring.
New Westminster police arrested Kim on Nov. 18, 2014. Six days prior to Kim’s arrest, residents living in the area of London Street between 15th and 20th streets awoke to find many of the vehicles parked on the street had been keyed by an unknown suspect.
Over the course of their investigation, police observed Kim keying vehicles in Burnaby, bringing the total number of cars he keyed in Burnaby and New Westminster to 129 – in less than one week.
Part of the mischief charge, according to Coquitlam RCMP, also includes a car-keying spree in the Tri-Cities last spring when more than 100 cars were vandalized in southwest Coquitlam.
According to ICBC, the damage done by Kim has cost the corporation about $650,000 in claims plus another $250,000 in outstanding claims. Customers have also spent about $35,000 on deductibles.
At this time, ICBC is trying to determine its options in order to recover the costs, a spokesperson with the insurance corporation said.
On average in B.C., a vandalism claim costs about $1,000, but depending on the vehicle that cost could be higher or lower, according to ICBC.
– With files from Jeremy Deutsch/Tri-Cities Now
