Homeowners in Sechelt’s The Shores neigbourhood are on high alert as they report ongoing “disturbing events” near their properties, which are adjacent to the closed Seawatch subdivision. The unrest follows reports of incidents involving strangers visiting the properties that they live on. The opportunities for theft created by the vacated but unguarded properties at Seawatch are viewed as a contributing factor, if not the cause.
Shores residents (who asked that their names be withheld) told Coast Reporter that the updated signage installed at Seawatch by the District of Sechelt may have made the situation worse. The signage was changed in late February, after Sechelt’s state of local emergency that kept has Seawatch closed since 2019 was lifted. Statements related to emergency services on that signage is an “open invitation," in the words of one resident of The Shores, to those looking for easy targets to loot.
Photos of four vehicles approaching the fenced off area late at night were posted on a neighbourhood group Facebook page between March 18 and 20. Information was also included about suspicious activities at homes in The Shores, including strangers knocking on doors and what appears to be stolen goods being left in driveways. The page notes that the incidents were also reported to the RCMP. A police case file number has been given to at least one of them.
Sunshine Coast RCMP spokesperson Cst. Karen Whitby provided an email statement acknowledging that the ongoing issues with the Seawatch development “have been extremely trying for property owners and neighboring residents."
When asked about policing response in the area, Whitby wrote “The RCMP and other emergency services have been faced with significant challenges related to access restrictions due to safety concerns from Worksafe BC and Canada Labour. This has negatively impacted our ability to provide effective proactive policing initiatives in this area such as foot patrols and/or police vehicles driving into the Seawatch area. However, with that said the RCMP have attempted to maintain some level of increased police presence and patrols since the area closure in 2019.”
“Although there is no question that significant reported and unreported property related crime has occurred within Seawatch, the RCMP have not experienced increased Calls For Service from the surrounding neighborhoods.
She provided no numbers about recent reports from The Shores area. When asked about residents' views that crime in the area is increasing, she wrote "We believe this can, at least partially, be attributed to the heightened public engagement and vigilance within the community. We truly appreciate the calls about suspicious activity and descriptions of suspects, their vehicles or other mode of transportation is extremely helpful.”
RCMP communication changes
One of the mechanisms for sharing of information among the RCMP, Coast local government and the community has undergone a change.
Sechelt’s communications manager, Lindsay Vickers told Coast Reporter via email on March 21, “The SCRD Policing and Public Safety Committee was dissolved to have the RCMP lead the meetings instead as they are the ones providing the service. The new format is more of a quarterly update provided to Sunshine Coast elected officials. All councillors and directors of all local governments are invited to attend the quarterly meetings hosted by the RCMP. The meetings are not open to the public.
She also stated “recently, there has been a gap in the reporting as the RCMP transition into a new reporting system.”
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