Sunshine Coast RCMP reported the following for Nov. 3 to 9:
Impaired drivers
Three impaired drivers were taken off the road in the span of less than one hour this weekend in Sechelt, thanks to the continuing efforts by Sunshine Coast RCMP to crack down on impaired driving.
The first occurred shortly after midnight on Nov. 5, during a roadblock set up at the intersection of Anchor Road and Trail Avenue. The driver, who advised he last consumed alcohol one hour earlier, was exhibiting signs of intoxication. The driver was given and failed two roadside alcohol-screening tests and received a 90-day immediate roadside prohibition. The driver’s vehicle was impounded for 30 days.
RCMP then stopped another possible impaired driver in the same area. The driver was given and failed two roadside alcohol-screening tests. The female driver, who has a history of driving and alcohol-related offences, was issued a 90-day immediate roadside prohibition and her vehicle was impounded for 30 days.
Minutes later, RCMP stopped another driver at the same sobriety check stop. The driver was also exhibiting signs of intoxication, and advised he had consumed six beers. Police attempted to have the driver take a roadside alcohol-screening test, but he refused, despite being told of the ramifications of refusing to take the test. The driver was arrested for refusal, and received a 90-day immediate roadside prohibition and a 30-day vehicle impound.
Failing to stop/assaulting police
• At around 11:50 p.m. on Nov. 6, a vehicle failed to stop at a sobriety road check in Sechelt, and sped past police at a high rate of speed. RCMP followed the vehicle, which stopped in the parking lot of a nearby liquor store. The driver was arrested for dangerous driving and flight from police, at which time police observed that the driver appeared to be impaired. After refusing to provide a breath sample, he was issued a 90-day driving prohibition and had his vehicle impounded. The driver later spat on an officer, and also hit another officer in the face with his shoe, and was subsequently arrested for assaulting a police officer. The driver is now facing multiple charges.
Restorative Justice
• On Nov. 3, mischief was reported in the 600 block of North Road, Gibsons, after someone wrote his name into some freshly poured concrete. The suspect was identified by staff and police located the 16-year-old male nearby. Due to his age and the circumstances of the file, police are recommending this file to the Restorative Justice Program.
Thefts
• Late on Nov. 3, a thief was caught on video surveillance camera stealing a bicycle from behind a business in the 5500 block of Wharf Avenue, Sechelt. The male suspect appears to be wearing a brown jacket. The stolen bike is described as a blue 21-speed Schwinn with two brand new tires and a silver carrier on the back. The owner’s name is also written on the frame and the carrier. Anyone with information about this incident is asked to contact RCMP, reference file 15-7746.
• On Nov. 6, a shoplifter was reported at a business in the 5700 block of Cowrie Street, Sechelt, after staff witnessed the male taking an item off a shelf, putting it in his jacket pocket and then attempting to leave the premises. Police arrested the male for theft and released him on a promise to appear for court. The male has been banned from the business.
• Police are investigating a theft that occurred on Nov. 5 after a male suspect stole a blue hoodie from a business in the 900 block of Gibsons Way. A witness saw the male walking away with the item on a hanger but didn’t report the incident to the business until later. Staff reviewed surveillance video footage which captured the suspect and the theft. The file is still under investigation.
• On Nov. 7, police witnessed a theft from a vehicle parked at a business in the 5700 block of Teredo Street, Sechelt. The suspect, who is known to police, was seen sitting in the driver’s side seat of a parked vehicle before exiting the vehicle with a bag. The suspect was arrested for theft and found to be in possession of a number of items including a wallet belonging to the vehicle’s owner. The owner was located and confirmed all of the items were hers. The suspect was released on a promise to appear and has been banned from the business and its parking lot.
Scam
A Coast resident reported falling for a common scam after receiving a phone call in early October from a male purportedly working for a well-known multi-media company that was offering computer tune-up services. The resident accepted the offer and gave the caller his credit card information as well as remote access to his computer. The resident later realized that he’d fallen for a scam and cancelled his credit card.
On Nov. 7, the male called the resident back to ask how the “fix” had worked and after the resident told him “not at all,” the caller offered to credit the resident his money back. The male refused to do this by credit card and asked for the resident’s banking information. When the resident refused to provide the info, the male threatened to use the information he claimed they already had and withdraw all the funds from the resident’s account. The resident has had his computer “wiped clean” by a local computer service to prevent any unauthorized access.
This type of scam is extremely common. To learn more about this and other scams, please visit sites such as the Canadian Anti-Fraud Call Centre at www.antifraudcentre-centreantifraude.ca or the Better Business Bureau at www.bbb.org
