Sunshine Coast RCMP reported the following for Sept. 22 to 29:
Mischief
• Between Sept. 18 and 21, a vandal damaged nine vehicles parked at a business in the 1000 block of Gibsons Way, Gibsons. The suspect used a pointed tool to jab the windshields hard enough to crack them, and also dented and scratched some of the cars. Anyone with any information about this mischief is asked to contact RCMP, reference file 15-6751.
Thefts
• On Sept. 23, a hitchhiker was picked up in Sechelt by a female in an older model four-door brown-coloured Toyota Camry with gold emblems. There was an approximately eight-year-old boy in the back seat playing video games. The woman, described as heavy-set, in her 30s, with a dirty blonde ponytail and wearing a turquoise shirt, told the hitchhiker she wouldn’t be able to drive all the way to the hitchhiker’s destination, and stopped the car on Highway 101 at Bay Road. As the hitchhiker exited the car and gathered her belongings, the driver grabbed her purse and started driving away. The hitchhiker had to let go of her purse or risk being dragged. The purse was later recovered nearby with everything but the cash inside. Anyone with any information about this incident is asked to contact RCMP, reference file 15-6778.
• Sometime this month, a thief attempted to steal a large statue from a property in the 900 block of Marine Drive, Gibsons, but was unsuccessful. It appears the thieves returned between Sept. 21 and 24 and stole a small bronze-coloured crouched winged gargoyle statue that weighs approximately 30 pounds. The statue has great sentimental value. Anyone with any information about this theft is asked to contact RCMP, reference file 15-6824.
• On Sept. 25, two shoplifters were caught on surveillance video stealing goods from a business in the 1100 block of Highway 101, Gibsons. The thieves were seen walking around with a large bag in a shopping cart and dropping items into the bag. They then took the bag out, abandoned the cart, and left the store. The female suspects are described as possibly Native and middle-aged. Police are reviewing the video footage.
Collisions
• On Sept. 23, police attended a motor vehicle incident on Highway 101 near Conrad Road, Roberts Creek, after a southbound vehicle, which was witnessed weaving and swerving prior to collision, drove off the road and into a tree. The vehicle sustained major damage and had to be towed but the driver was able to exit the vehicle on his own and was cleared by Emergency Health Services. The driver was not impaired but a medical review of his driver’s licence has been requested.
• On Sept. 23, police attended a two-vehicle incident on Highway 101 near Conrad Road, Roberts Creek, after the first vehicle crossed the centre line and collided with a second vehicle in the oncoming lane. The drivers of both vehicles were taken to hospital for minor injuries. The driver of the first vehicle advised there was another vehicle in the lane in front of him when he came around the sharp corner and he swerved to turn up a side road to avoid colliding with it, but didn’t see the vehicle in the oncoming lane. The file is still under investigation.
• On Sept. 26, police attended a two-vehicle incident near the intersection of Stewart Road and North Road, Gibsons, involving a passenger car and a tractor truck and trailer. No major injuries were reported, but both vehicles sustained damage and had to be towed from the scene. The passenger vehicle was stopped at the yield sign and the driver of the tractor trailer failed to stop in time to avoid collision. The driver of the tractor trailer was issued a violation ticket for following too closely. The matter has been referred to ICBC.
Impaired drivers
• On Sept. 23, police witnessed a possible impaired driver southbound on Fairway Avenue, Sechelt, after the vehicle drifted over the centre line then quickly corrected back into its lane. Police initiated a traffic stop and upon speaking to the driver, noted signs of intoxication. The driver was issued a roadside alcohol-screening test but refused to provide a sufficient breath sample. After several failed attempts to provide a proper breath sample, the driver was issued a 90-day Immediate roadside prohibition and his vehicle was impounded for 30 days.
• On Sept. 26, a possible impaired driver was stopped on Wharf Road at Trident Avenue, Sechelt, after police witnessed the vehicle almost cause a head-on collision a short distance away. The driver, who was exhibiting signs of intoxication, was given a roadside alcohol screening test. Despite numerous attempts, the driver failed to give a suitable breath sample and was issued a 90-day immediate roadside prohibition and her vehicle was impounded for 30 days.
Fraud
• On Sept. 27, a local home-based business owner reported being defrauded of a large amount of goods after receiving orders from Singapore and Malaysia. The business owner shipped the goods without making the proper credit card and address verifications, only to find that the suspects had used stolen credit cards to “pay” for the goods. The file is still under investigation.
– Submitted by SC RCMP
