Sunshine Coast RCMP reported the following for June 19 to 26:
Bear Call
• Late afternoon on June 20, police attended a bear call in the 700 block of Hillcrest Road, Gibsons. The bear was seen eating trash from a garbage bin that had been left out at one residence, and then enter a number of other properties in search of food. As the neighbourhood was busy with children and people outside, police, in consultation with the Conservation Officer Service (COS), waited for a safe opportunity to discharge a rubber bullet. As soon as the bear was struck, it ran off into the woods and did not immediately return. Homeowners are reminded to avoid leaving easy food sources for bears and other wildlife, and that fines could be issued by the COS to non-compliant households.
Impaired Driving
• On June 20, police received an anonymous tip about a possible impaired driver leaving the 5800 block of Heron Place, Sechelt. Police located the suspect vehicle on Trail Avenue and spoke with the driver. Police noted the odour of alcohol coming from the driver, as well as other signs of intoxication. The driver initially advised he’d last consumed alcohol several hours prior, but then, before undertaking a roadside alcohol screening test, admitted he’d just consumed a beer 10 minutes prior to driving. After a waiting period to allow the residual mouth alcohol to dissipate, the driver was given the test. After two “warn” results, the driver was issued a three-day immediate roadside prohibition and his vehicle was impounded for three days.
• Late on June 25, police had a near-miss collision with a small blue motor scooter travelling northbound on School Road, Gibsons. The officer noted the scooter didn’t have its headlight on and that neither the driver nor passenger was wearing a helmet. Police initiated a traffic stop with the scooter and noted the driver, who had an invalid driver’s licence, was exhibiting signs of alcohol impairment. The driver was given and failed a roadside alcohol screening test. The driver was issued an administrative driving prohibition, a 24-hour driving prohibition, a promise to appear for court for impaired driving, and a violation ticket for riding a motorcycle without a helmet. The file is still under investigation.
Suspicious Activity
• On June 20, a male suspect was witnessed putting an assortment of goods into a garbage can and then rolling the full can out of a business in the 4300 block of Highway 101, Sechelt, without paying for the items or the can. Police are reviewing video surveillance footage and the file is still under investigation.
Fraud
• On June 21, a Coast resident reported almost being scammed after responding to a help wanted ad in a local newspaper. The resident responded, expressing interest in the job, and was offered the job without having to send a resume or references. The resident was then told the job would start once the client moved to the Coast from overseas. The “employer” next sent the resident a cheque for several thousand dollars, and told the resident to keep a small portion as payment for future work and to forward the remainder to a “manager.” At this point, the resident realized this was a scam and discontinued communication. This type of scam is known as the Overpayment Scam and comes in various guises. To learn more about this and other popular scams, visit sites such as the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre at www.antifraudcentre-centreantifraude.ca or the Better Business Bureau at www.bbb.org.
• On June 23, a Coast resident reported an attempted fraud after receiving a phone call from a male who offered to lower her credit card interest from 19 per cent to four per cent. The resident was initially suspicious of the caller and refused to provide any information, but then the male put a second male on the line who provided the caller with part of her Sunshine Coast Credit Union credit card number. The resident then confirmed her credit card number upon which the caller abruptly hung up on her. This caused the resident immediate concern so she contacted her credit union and cancelled the card. Police remind the public to be very wary about disclosing any personal or financial information to anyone without doing their due diligence to confirm the legitimacy of the caller.
Hit and Run Collision
• On June 23, witnesses reported a hit and run in a parking lot in the 400 block of Marine Drive, Gibsons, after the first vehicle backed into a second vehicle parked behind it. Even though the collision was audible, the first vehicle driver did not get out to check on the damage or leave a note on the second vehicle. Witnesses confronted the driver but he refused to stop and fled the scene. Police located the driver, who admitted to the collision, and issued him a violation ticket for failing to stop after a collision with an unattended vehicle. The matter has been referred to ICBC.
Theft
• On June 22, around 5 p.m., a thief stole a bike that had been left at a school in the 5500 block of Shorncliffe Avenue, Sechelt. The bike is described as a small silver BMX model with blue highlights. The 16-inch tires had yellow smiley faces on the valve stems. Anyone with information about this theft is asked to contact RCMP, reference file 17-3744.
Found Property
• On June 26, a resident reported finding a backpack and helmet at the end of a driveway in the 200 block of Wharf Road, Langdale. The items may be claimed by the owner within 90 days with detailed description. Reference file 17-3838.
• On June 26, some cash that had been found on Islandview Drive, Gibsons, was turned in. Owner may claim within 90 days with detailed description. Reference file 17-3853.
– Sunshine Coast RCMP
