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Weekly police report

SUNSHINE COAST RCMP

Sunshine Coast RCMP reported the following for May 25 to June 3:

 

• On May 25, a canoe was reported adrift in Square Bay in Halfmoon Bay, with no occupants. The canoe eventually washed ashore and only contained a couple of paddles and had a frayed bow line. The canoe has a name, number and dates as well as a distinctive mark on the bow.

The owner may claim with detailed description by calling RCMP at 604-885-2266 and reference file 14-3270.

• On May 26, a male suspect stole a purse from a restricted area on the BC Ferry heading to Langdale. The suspect, described as a stocky Caucasian male in his 20's wearing a red baseball cap, was caught on surveillance video later in the day using the victim's credit card to make a purchase in Sechelt.

The file is still under investigation.

• A Coast resident reported being taken in by the popular "grandchild scam" after receiving a call from a male purporting to be the resident's grandson.

The suspect advised the resident he had been in a car accident and needed money wired to a third party in Quebec to pay for legal fees. The resident did as the false grandson requested and then waited for the call back to confirm the funds had been received. When no such call came, the resident called his true grandson and learned the grandson had not been involved in any such incident.

Police encourage everyone to learn about this and other types of scams by visiting websites such as the Better Business Bureau or www.phonebusters.com.

• On May 28, a possible impaired driver was reported in the 5700 block of Teredo Street in Sechelt, after a witness saw the driver, who exhibited signs of intoxication getting into the vehicle, put her vehicle in drive instead of reverse and lurched forward into a curb.

The witness asked the driver to turn off the car and then took away the keys until police arrived. The driver was issued a violation ticket for not having valid insurance as well as a 24-hour driving suspension and the vehicle was impounded.

• On May 29, a Coast resident reported falling for the common Nigerian bank scam after attempting to send a significant sum of money to the scammer through her bank.

The bank alerted the resident that she was being defrauded and stopped the transaction, but the resident had already sent a smaller amount of money via a wire transfer. The resident believed the Nigerian bank director who told her she would be receiving an extraordinary amount of money from a long lost relative once she'd paid the processing fees.

• On May 30, police were performing a speed zone enforcement in a school zone in Gibsons when a northbound vehicle sped by. The vehicle was registered on a laser travelling more than 20 kilometres over the posted speed limit.

The vehicle was stopped and the driver was noted to be exhibiting signs of intoxication. The driver, who advised he'd consumed alcohol just shortly before driving, was given a roadside alcohol-screening test. As the driver was a Class 7, any alcohol reading is considered a violation of restrictions, so the driver was issued a 12-hour driving licence suspension and a violation ticket for driving contrary to conditions and speeding in a playground zone.

• On May 30, a witness reported a possible impaired driver on Teredo Street in Sechelt. The vehicle was located shortly afterward by police on Cowrie Street with the male driver apparently asleep inside.

After rousing the male, police located an empty liquor bottle inside the vehicle. The male was taken to cells and given an alcohol screening test. Due to the results, the male was issued a 24-hour driving prohibition and an administrative driving prohibition. RCMP are recommending impaired charges to Crown counsel.

• On June 1, police attended a two-vehicle collision on Highway 101 near Wakefield Road in Sechelt, after a vehicle stopped for a dog on the road.

Due to the sun shining in his eyes, the second vehicle driver couldn't see the first vehicle was stopped and rear-ended it. Fortunately, no major injuries or damage resulted. The matter has been referred to ICBC.