Sunshine Coast RCMP reported the following for Nov. 2 to 9:
On Nov. 5, a Sunshine Coast resident reported falling victim to a fraud after “friending” someone on Facebook that the resident believed was an old friend he hadn’t heard from in a long time. The “friend” reached out to the resident and after some communication back and forth, convinced the resident that he could help the resident qualify and access federal grant money through the “Forever Living Assistance” program. The resident was told that if he paid a fee up front using Amazon gift cards, he would be eligible for a large grant. The resident purchased the cards and then sent his “friend” photos of the activation codes via text, only to realize later that he'd been scammed, and that there was no “friend.” To learn more about common scams, how to recognize the red flags, and protect yourself from falling victim to them, please visit sites such as the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre at www.antifraudcentre-centreantifraude.ca or the Better Business Bureau at www.bbb.org.
Theft
• Between 8 a.m., Nov. 2, and 2 a.m., Nov. 3, a suspect stole an assortment of camping gear from a tent set up at a campsite in the 6400 block of Sechelt Inlet Road, Sechelt. The suspect stole a Northface sleeping bag, yellow dry-bag with various items, a grey Rubbermaid flat deck trolley cart, a tan tarp, and other personal items. Anyone with any information about this theft is asked to contact RCMP, reference police file 2020-7674.
• On Nov. 8, an unknown male stole a chainsaw and a tent from a business in the 4300 block of Sunshine Coast Hwy, Sechelt. The lone suspect placed the stolen items into a parked vehicle and left on foot. Police attended and were met by the registered owner of the vehicle who denied any knowledge regarding the stolen property with the vehicle. The stolen property was returned to the business. The file is still under investigation.
Single-Vehicle Incidents
• On Nov. 3, police attended a single-vehicle incident near Trout Lake, Halfmoon Bay, after Emergency Health Services reported a vehicle in the ditch. The lone driver and occupant, who was able to exit the vehicle after it had gone down a deep embankment, was not impaired. The driver advised that he had been travelling west when he swerved into the oncoming lane to avoid a deer only to realize a fallen tree was blocking that portion of the highway, which then forced him to go off road. The vehicle had to be towed and the matter has been referred to ICBC.
• On Nov. 6, at around 6:30 p.m., police attended a single-vehicle incident in the 5300 block of Highway 101, Sechelt, after a southbound vehicle went off road and struck a utility pole. Fortunately, the unimpaired lone driver and occupant was able to exit the vehicle on his own. The driver advised he’d been momentarily blinded by some bright LED headlights on a northbound vehicle which caused him to lose sight of the road and drive straight off it on the curve and into the pole. The matter has been referred to ICBC.
Mischief/Graffiti
• Between Nov. 1 and 2, a suspect used spray paint to vandalize the public men's washroom at Hackett Park in the 5700 block of Dolphin Street, Sechelt. This same suspect is believed to have committed similar mischief at the same location in mid-October. Anyone with any information about any of these incidents is asked to contact RCMP, reference police file 2020-7682.
Prohibited Driving
• On Nov. 3, police witnessed a known prohibited driver driving a vehicle on Highway 101 near Trail Island Drive, Sechelt. Police initiated a traffic stop and confirmed that the driver was still bound by an indefinite driving prohibition. The driver’s vehicle has been impounded and police are recommending charges of driving while prohibited against the driver. The file is still under investigation.
– Const. Jihan McDougall, Sunshine Coast RCMP
