Prolific thief held in theft cases

One of Spokane’s most prolific thieves has been arrested again – this time allegedly for a burglary that garnered significant media attention last month at the popular Chaps Diner and Bakery on Cheney-Spokane Road.

Police suspect Christopher J. Cannata, 42, learned that the restaurant owner would be out of town in late February and burglarized the business. He reportedly targeted the business after meeting a former Chaps employee, according to court documents.

The burglary at Chaps upset customers, who poured into the diner following the break-in to support owner Celeste Shaw, in part because Shaw’s other business, a vintage store in Vinegar Flats, was burglarized just a few days before. Customers came for breakfast and scones and left flowers, cards and the kind of goodwill that served as a poignant counterweight to the crime.

Cannata has 31 felony convictions for crimes including burglary and theft and is accused of the Christmas Eve burglary of the North Division Bike Shop in 2013. Police Chief Frank Straub once called Cannata and other prolific burglars “problem children.”

The thieves who broke into the restaurant took more than $12,000 in cash deposits, computers and other electronics. Police reviewed surveillance footage and one of the detectives recognized Cannata from prior contacts over the past 25 years, according to court documents. Several witnesses who also know Cannata corroborated the identification.

On Wednesday police released a 30-minute segment of video surveillance taken during the burglary in the hopes of learning the identity of the second man shown. Anyone with information on the second man’s identity is asked to call Crime Check at (509) 456-2233.

Cannata appeared in court Wednesday and had his bond set at $100,000. Members of the police department’s Chronic Offender Unit attended the court hearing, prepared to argue for a high bond.

Cannata was recently referred to the Chronic Offender program but officers were not able to locate him, said Officer Kyle Yrigollen.

“He makes himself very hard to find,” he said.

It is unknown if Cannata is responsible for the break-in of Shaw’s other business, Lucky Detour, police said.

“We are still investigating other things he may be involved in,” Lt. Dave Singley said.