Sunshine Coast RCMP reported the following for Feb. 27 to March 5:
Found Property
• On Feb. 26, a found cell phone with a broken screen was turned in to RCMP. The phone had been found at the Petro-Can service station in Sechelt. Owner may claim within 90 days with detailed description, reference file 2018-1253.
• On Feb. 27, a cell phone found in the 6800 block of Seaview Road, Sechelt, was turned in. The cell phone has a distinctive case with a word on it and may be claimed by owner with a detailed description within 90 days, reference file 2018-1256.
Impaired Drivers
• Late on Feb. 28, police witnessed a vehicle leave a parking lot in Gibsons and drive more than 20 kilometres below the posted speed limit. Police stopped the vehicle on Gibsons Way near Shaw Road and spoke with the driver who was exhibiting signs of intoxication. The driver initially denied having consumed alcohol but then advised she’d consumed some a couple of hours prior to driving. The driver was given a roadside alcohol screening test but failed to provide an adequate sample so was issued a 90-day immediate roadside prohibition for refusal to provide breath sample. Her vehicle was impounded for 30 days.
• Late on March 2, a witness reported a possible impaired driver along Wharf Avenue near Lamprey Lane, Sechelt. Besides speeding through stop signs and driving recklessly, items were seen falling out of the open tailgate onto the street. Police located the suspect vehicle nearby and spoke with the driver who was exhibiting some signs of impairment. The driver was given a roadside alcohol screening test and after two fail results, was issued a 90-day immediate roadside prohibition and his vehicle was impounded for 30 days.
• On March 5, police witnessed a vehicle in the southbound lane of Highway 101, Secret Cove that was crossing well over the double solid yellow centre lines, at times by almost half a car, or crossing over to the wrong lane completely. Police attempted to initiate a traffic stop but the suspect vehicle then accelerated speed, passed another vehicle, and continued on in a generally erratic manner until police were able to complete a traffic stop in West Sechelt. The driver, who was determined not to be impaired by alcohol, was found to be impaired by prescription medications and other medical issues. The driver was taken to hospital for assessment and issued violation tickets for failing to stop for police and crossing a double solid line. Police have also requested a driver’s medical fitness review.
Mischief
• Sometime in early February, a suspect shot out a street light at the intersection of Arthur Road and Dulcie Road, Gambier Island. A BC Hydro crew attended to fix the light and discovered that the light had been struck six times.
Police records show no reports of shots fired on Gambier Island for the entire month of February. Anyone with information about this mischief is asked to contact RCMP, reference file 2018-1289.
Fraud
• On March 1, a Coast resident reported falling for a common scam after receiving a phone call from someone purporting to be from Microsoft. The scammer told the resident that her computer hard drive was compromised and she was then referred to a third party company called ITechCircle. The resident contacted ITechCircle, gave them her credit card information, and allowed them remote access to her computer. During this time, an unauthorized charge was made to her credit card.
The resident realized she’d been scammed and contacted the company to demand a refund, which they said they’d issue. But it is unlikely this will happen. Police advised the resident to cancel her credit card and refrain from providing any further information to the scammer. Police also recommended the resident take her computer to a reputable local business to check it for viruses or anything malicious.
To learn more about this and other common scams, please visit sites such as the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre at www.antifraudcentre-centreantifraude.ca or the Better Business Bureau at www.bbb.org.
Break & Enters and Thefts
• Between late November 2017 and March 2018, a suspect pried a door to gain entry to a residence in the 1500 block of McCullough Road, Sechelt. The suspect then broke into a safe and stole a large assortment of Canadian, Filipino and Mexican currency, coins, jewelry, identification, computer hard drives and financial documents. The suspect, who used tools found in the residence to open the safe, does not appear to have gone through the rest of the house. Anyone with any information about this break and enter is asked to contact RCMP, reference file 2018-1294.
• Between early February and March 1, a suspect gained entry to a shed in the 1300 block of Reed Road, Gibsons, and stole an assortment of tools and jerry cans full of gasoline. The stolen items included an older 36-inch model Husqvarna chainsaw, a Stihl chainsaw, helmet and shield, a four-stroke lawn mower and an electric chop saw. Anyone with information about this break and enter is asked to contact RCMP, reference file 2018-1303.
• On March 4, police attended a theft report at a business in the 5500 block of Highway 101, Sechelt, after the suspect, who refused to be detained by staff on suspicion of shoplifting, fled the premises through an emergency exit. The suspect, who is described as a light-skinned male in his 30s, approximately 5 feet 7 to 10 inches tall, was wearing white and black running shoes, black pants, a puffy black hooded jacket and a black and white checkered ball cap with the letters ROC on it. The file is still under investigation.
Motor Vehicle Incidents
• On March 2, police attended a two vehicle incident on Field Road by the IGA parking lot after the first vehicle heading northbound on Field Road was struck on the passenger side by a second vehicle exiting the parking lot, attempting to make a left turn onto Field Road. Both drivers were taken to hospital for assessment, and the second vehicle had to be towed from the scene. Police spoke with the second vehicle driver who admitted he hadn’t fully cleared the intersection when he pulled out of the parking lot onto Field Road. The second vehicle driver was issued a violation ticket for failing to yield after a stop. The matter has been referred to ICBC.
– Sunshine Coast RCMP
