Sunshine Coast RCMP reported the following for Dec. 10 to 17:
Shoplifting
• On Dec. 11, staff at a business in the 4300 block of Highway 101, Sechelt, caught a suspect attempting to conceal a number of unpaid for items in her purse and coat. Staff confronted the suspect and managed to recover several items before the suspect fled the scene in an older model gold-coloured Mercedes SUV type vehicle. The suspect, who is known to police, was caught on surveillance video and police are attempting to locate her. The file is still under investigation.
• On Dec. 14, police attended a theft at a business in the 900 block of Gibsons Way, after staff noticed an empty winter boot box and upon reviewing surveillance video, noted a female suspect putting the boots on, ripping off the tags, then leaving the store without paying for them. The suspect is described as an Asian female in her late 30s, about five feet four inches tall with a slim build and long black hair. The suspect was wearing a white hat, a brown jacket with a light-coloured fur collar and black leggings. The suspect was accompanied by two children and an older female. Anyone with any information about this incident is asked to contact RCMP, reference file 2018-8576. The file is still under investigation.
• On Dec. 14, police attended a shoplifting complaint at a business in the 5700 block of Cowrie Street, Sechelt, after the suspect was witnessed putting several items in his backpack without paying for them and then exiting the store. The suspect was initially uncooperative when staff confronted him, but staff managed to detain him and the stolen items were recovered. The suspect has been banned from the business premises.
Hit and Run
• On Dec. 12 around 4:30 p.m., a hit and run occurred on Highway 101 at Pratt Road, Gibsons. The first vehicle was making a left turn onto Payne Road when the second vehicle sped through a late yellow light and struck the rear right side of the first vehicle. The second vehicle continued on down the highway even though both vehicles sustained significant damage. The first vehicle was towed due to damage. The debris left behind indicates that the suspect vehicle is a 2000-2003 black GMC or Chevy pickup truck with significant front end damage. Anyone with any information about this incident is asked to contact RCMP, reference police file 2018-8539.
Break and Enter
• Overnight on Dec. 13, a suspect gained entry to a building in the 4600 block of Whitaker Road, Sechelt, and stole a large number of power tools. Anyone with any information about this break and enter is asked to contact RCMP, reference file 2018-8548.
Attempted Theft from Vehicle
• On Dec. 13 around 9:30 p.m., a suspect set off a car alarm in the 5600 block of Inlet Avenue, Sechelt. The suspect, who’d smashed the rear window of the vehicle as well as the passenger rear side window, appears to have been targeting tools that had been left in the back seat but fled at the sounding alarm without stealing anything. Police remind drivers to remove any valuables from plain sight to deter opportunistic thieves.
Impaired Driving – Liquor
• On Dec. 15, several witnesses reported a possible impaired driver heading down School Road towards Marine Drive, Gibsons, after the suspect vehicle drove in the wrong lane towards an oncoming vehicle. The other driver was able to avoid a collision and the suspect vehicle continued on before parking at a business in the 400 block of Marine Drive. Police arrived soon after and after observing signs of alcohol impairment, gave the driver a roadside alcohol screening test. After a fail result, the driver was issued a 90-day immediate roadside prohibition and his vehicle was impounded for 30 days.
Scam
• On Dec. 17, a Coast resident reported receiving an email from what appeared to be a very good friend. The friend advised she was travelling and had forgotten to buy a birthday gift for a relative, and asked the resident to do her the favour of buying $200 worth of iTunes cards. The resident agreed, and then got a second email from her supposed friend asking for the activation codes and other details, which allowed the cards to be redeemed. The resident then noticed a slight anomaly in the email address and directly contacted her friend, who advised that her computer had been hacked and everyone in her address book was receiving similar emails. This is a variation on a very common scam. To learn more about this and other scams, please visit sites such as the Better Business Bureau at www.bbb.org and the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre at www.antifraudcentre-centreantifraude.ca. Please share this information with your friends and family.
Collision
• On Dec. 17, police attended a two-vehicle incident on Highway 101 at Trail Avenue, Sechelt after the first vehicle that was stopped at a stop sign northbound on Trail accelerated across the intersection in an attempt to beat a long line of ferry traffic. The first vehicle collided with a second vehicle travelling west on Highway 101. The first vehicle driver was issued a violation ticket for failing to yield after a stop. No serious injuries were reported and the matter has been referred to ICBC.
• On Dec. 15, police attended a two-vehicle incident on Gibsons Way at Seamount Way, Gibsons. The first vehicle was travelling east on Gibsons Way when the second vehicle entered from the shoulder in front of the first vehicle, cutting it off in the process. The first vehicle driver was unable to stop in time and struck the second vehicle on the driver’s side just behind the driver’s door. No injuries were reported but both vehicles had to be towed due to damage. The second vehicle driver advised she had been waiting on the shoulder, facing east, and thought traffic was clear in both directions when she attempted to make a left turn onto Gibsons Way. 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
