Sunshine Coast RCMP reported the following for the week of Sept. 29 to Oct. 5:
•On Sept. 30, a vehicle theft was reported from the 1100 block of Keith Road, Gibsons. The vehicle, which had been left unlocked with the keys in the ignition, was recovered on Cemetery Road, Gibsons. The file is still under investigation.
•On Sept. 30, a single vehicle incident was reported in the 4800 block of Francis Peninsula Road, Pender Harbour, after a passerby noticed an unoccupied vehicle crashed in the ditch. Evidence at the scene suggested that the vehicle had been travelling east on Garden Bay Road, had trouble navigating a curve and went off road. The registered owner was located and he advised he’d lost control while travelling the unfamiliar area at night during the rain. Neither the driver nor passenger sustained any injuries but the vehicle sustained major damage and had to be towed. The matter has been referred to ICBC.
•On Sept. 30, a witness reported a possible impaired driver southbound on Highway 101 near Redrooffs Road, after a vehicle was seen driving under the speed limit, braking erratically, and having difficulty staying within the lines. Police located the sober driver who advised that the vehicle was fairly new to her and she was still getting used to it.
•Just after midnight on Oct. 1, police witnessed a motorcyclist merge onto Roberts Creek Road at more than double the posted speed limit. The motorcyclist continued to speed and failed to stop at a stop sign at Kraus Road and Lysander Road. Police initiated a traffic stop but the motorcyclist continued speeding and then lost control and laid the bike down before sliding to a stop. The learner rider, who was unhurt, was issued a violation ticket for driving without due care and driving contrary to restrictions. The rider also received a notice of impoundment for breaching his driving restrictions and racing.
•On Oct. 3, a Coast resident reported falling victim to the common “grandchild-in-trouble” scam after receiving a phone call from a female purporting to be the resident’s granddaughter. The female suspect told the resident she’d been in a car accident and needed money sent to a lawyer in Montreal. The resident followed the directions the suspect gave her and wired funds through a popular money wiring service before realizing she’d been scammed. To learn more about common scams and how to protect yourself, go to www.phonebusters.com or other reputable sites such as the Better Business Bureau.
•A hit and run motor vehicle incident was reported on Oct. 3 in the 800 block of Gibsons Way. A witness provided the struck vehicle owner with information about the suspect vehicle. The suspect vehicle was located a short distance away bearing damage that matched the damage to the other parked vehicle. The file is under investigation.
•On Sept. 24, a thief stole a custom purple “We the People” brand stunt bike from a residence in the 1000 block of Largo Road, Roberts Creek. The bike is described as a single speed black framed BMX and has blue forks and no brakes.
•On Oct. 6, a Coast resident reported an attempted scam after receiving a response to an online classified ad she had placed. The resident, who had placed a work wanted ad, was contacted via email by a male purporting to be moving to the Coast. The male “hired” the resident to perform work for an agreed price, then sent the resident a cheque for many times the agreed amount. The male then sent emails asking the resident to cash the cheque, keep a portion, and return the rest as it was sent in error.
This is the common overpayment scam, and fortunately, the resident did not comply and discontinued communications with the male. Police remind residents to be wary of any such offers or agreements that seem too good to be true.
