Sunshine Coast RCMP reported the following for Aug. 26 to Sept. 1:
• On Aug. 29, a Sunshine Coast resident reported a fraud he’d been victim of for about 18 months. The resident reported that early in 2018, he’d received a pop-up message on his computer warning him that he had a virus on this computer. The resident clicked on the message, which allowed malicious software (malware) to embed into the computer. Since then, the resident agreed to pay a “tech company” hundreds of dollars a month for protection and maintenance of his computer. Recently, the resident grew suspicious and cancelled the “service.” It is unlikely the resident will be able to recoup all of the monies he has paid the fraudsters. 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.
• On Aug. 28, a Sunshine Coast resident reported a fraud after a “woman” he’d met on an online dating app advised the resident that she’d recently come into an inheritance from her family in Nigeria and that she needed his help to have it released to her. The resident, who has only communicated with the person online, was sent authentic-looking documents from a law firm requesting all his online banking information and passwords. The resident provided everything he was asked for and tried to assist the scammer by depositing official-looking cheques into his account on her behalf. The bank recognized the cheques as fraudulent and the resident then discovered that an unauthorized withdrawal had been made from his account, presumably by the scammer. The resident’s accounts have been frozen and police have advised him to cease all contact with the scammer.
Break and Enter
• Overnight on Aug. 27, a suspect threw a rock through a glass door to gain entry to a business in the 5600 block of Teredo Street, Sechelt, and stole several desktop computers and monitors. Anyone with any information about this incident is asked to contact RCMP, reference police file 2019-5891.
• On Aug. 27, a theft of a number of women’s gold rings was reported from a residence in the 6300 block of Marmot Road, Sechelt. The stolen items include a 14-karat yellow gold band, an 18-karat white gold diamond solitaire with “HMJ” stamped inside the band, an 18-karat white gold diamond solitaire with “C.F. STEELE” stamped inside the band, and an 18-karat yellow gold diamond cluster ring. Anyone with any information about these stolen items, which were likely stolen within the past six months, is asked to contact RCMP, reference police file 2019-5897.
Toy Thefts
• Within the last few weeks, suspects have stolen some children's toys from outside an apartment in the 700 block of Gibsons Way, Gibsons. In the first incident, a pair of suspects described as a thin Caucasian male with short dark hair and a short, heavy-set female with blond hair, were witnessed loading a child-sized toy boat into a newer model dark-coloured truck. The second theft occurred on Aug. 27, where unknown suspects stole a plastic child-size picnic table and chair. Anyone with any information about these incidents is asked to contact RCMP, reference police file 2019-5898.
Found Property
• On Aug. 28, a very well used small camera, camera bag, and a flip cellphone were turned in to police. The items had been found in the 400 block of South Fletcher Road, Gibsons. Owner may claim with detailed description within 90 days. Please reference police file 2019-5924.
Mischief
• On Aug. 28, around 10 p.m., a suspect vandalized a public facility in the 5500 block of Shorncliffe Avenue, Sechelt, by smashing a glass door with an unknown object, spider-webbing the glass in the process. Police are reviewing security video footage and the file is still under investigation.
• Between Aug. 27 and 28, suspects vandalized the bathrooms at a school located in the 5000 block of Gonzalez Road, Madeira Park. The suspects used wax crayons to write various drug-related statements on the walls and stalls. Police are attempting to identify the suspects and the file is still under investigation.
Impaired Driving
• On Aug. 29, witnesses reported a possible impaired driver in the 5500 block of Highway 101, Sechelt. The suspect was seen driving on the wrong side of the highway before he entered a parking lot where he stopped in a random spot before police arrived. Police detained the suspect, who was exhibiting signs of intoxication by alcohol, and obtained breath samples that confirmed the driver was heavily impaired by alcohol. The driver was arrested for impaired operation of a motor vehicle, then released on a promise to appear for court. The driver was also issued a 24-hour driving prohibition and an administrative driving prohibition. The file is still under investigation.
• On Aug. 29, police witnessed an erratic driver on Highway 101 near Snodgrass Road, Sechelt, repeatedly hitting the brakes and tailgating the vehicle in front of it. Police initiated a traffic stop and noticed the driver exhibiting possible signs of alcohol impairment. The driver was given a roadside alcohol screening test and after a warn result, was issued a three-day immediate roadside prohibition and his vehicle was impounded for three days as well. The matter has been referred to RoadSafetyBC.
Const. Karen Whitby, Sunshine Coast RCMP
