'Screen cutter' trial: Homeowner saw 'something go by' the night he was robbed

The trial of 39-year old Richard Joseph Arsenault, the alleged "screen cutter" who is accused of a string of break-ins in Stratford, Charlottetown and Cornwall, continued Thursday, hearing from a homeowner in Charlottetown.

The homeowner,whose house was robbed in August, told P.E.I. Provincial Court he had a feeling he was not alone the night of the crime.

"I was lying in bed about 3, watching the Olympics on TV," he said. "I thought I saw something go by in the hall."

Piggy bank stolen

The next morning he found cash stolen, his front door ajar, and a screen missing from a kitchen window. Also stolen was a pink, metallic piggy bank that belonged to one of his children.

• 'Screen cutter' trial underway in Charlottetown

Crown prosecutor ValerieMoore showed the victim a child's piggy bank today in court, which police say they seized from Arsenault's home in Travellers Rest, P.E.I.

"That's it," the homeowner testified.

A Charlottetown police officer also testified Thursday afternoon.

GPS tracking led to arrest: Police

The officer testified he followed Arsenault's red Mazda the night of Aug. 11 to Cornwall and watched Arsenault park the car, take something from the trunk and then "take off" on foot in a residential neighbourhood.

The officer said he tried to follow Arsenault on foot but could not find him. Minutes later, a home security alarm in a nearby house went off.

The next day, police obtained a tracking warrant and placed GPS tracking devices on Arsenault'stwo vehicles.

• Richard Joseph Arsenault: A timeline of the 'screen cutter' alleged offenses

On Aug. 15, police tracked Arsenault's car to a neighbourhood in Charlottetown and arrested him.

Arsenault has pleaded not guilty in connection with ten break-ins around Charlottetown over the past two years.

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