Sunshine Coast RCMP reported the following for June 12 to 19:
Early on June 12, a break and enter occurred at a business in the 5600 block of Cowrie Street in Sechelt after a suspect threw a rock through the window. The thief did not gain complete entry into the business, but stole some clothing from near the broken window before fleeing.
Early on June 12, witnesses reported a suspicious incident after two people were seen installing a camera on a telephone pole at the corner of Norwest Bay Road and Derby Road. Police located the camera and contacted the company whose information was on the unit. The company advised that the District of Sechelt had contracted them to install several cameras around town in order to gather traffic flow statistics, and that late night installations are often done in order to avoid pedestrian traffic.
On June 12, a witness reported a hit and run in a parking lot in the 5700 block of Cowrie Street after a vehicle pulled into a spot, struck a parked vehicle, backed up and tried again to park, and struck the same vehicle again, leaving behind a sizeable dent.
The suspect vehicle then backed out and drove away without leaving a note for the damaged vehicle's owner. A witness was able to provide a licence plate number and description of the suspect vehicle and police located it shortly thereafter. The driver said he hadn't been aware he'd hit the other vehicle. The driver was issued a violation ticket for failing to stop after a collision.
On June 13, a two-vehicle collision occurred at the intersection of Gibsons Way and Pratt Road after a vehicle that was stopped at a red light backed up and hit the vehicle that was stopped behind it. The struck vehicle sustained minor damage and the driver of the first vehicle, who advised he'd backed up in order to allow a pedestrian to pass and didn't see the vehicle behind him, was issued a violation ticket for reverse when unsafe.
A Coast resident, who had fallen prey last year to one of those phone scams where the caller purports to be from Microsoft and offers to sell virus protection, had managed to cancel her credit card payments for the expensive "program" after six months. Recently, the resident received a call from someone purporting to be from the Government of Canada policy refund centre, and the caller advised that they'd gone after the fraudsters in court, won, and now had refunds to give to past victims. The caller then asked the resident to go to her computer and start entering a series of numbers in order to qualify for the refund. Fortunately, the resident refused.
Once again, police remind the public to be alert to such offers and to exercise extreme caution before responding to any such calls, emails or letters.
Information about common fraud schemes and how to protect yourself can be found at websites such as www.phonebusters.com.
On June 15, a shoplifter was caught at a business in the 900 block of Gibsons Way after security staff witnessed the suspect purchase some items, and then proceed to put unpaid for items in the store bag containing her legitimate purchases. The security staff followed the suspect out of the business where she was stopped and detained until police arrived.
The suspect was arrested for theft and has been banned from the premises.
On June 16, police attended a break and enter to a business in the 5500 block of Inlet Avenue in Sechelt. The thief gained entry by smashing a glass door. The thief made off with one 55" Samsung plasma screen television.
Police are reviewing nearby surveillance footage.
On June 16, a three-vehicle collision occurred on Highway 101 near Lockyer Road in Roberts Creek after a northbound vehicle stopped to make a left turn onto Flume Road was rear-ended by a second northbound vehicle. The second vehicle's rear-end slid out into the opposite lane and struck a third vehicle which was going southbound on Highway 101. No injuries were reported, and two vehicles were still drivable, but the first vehicle required a tow.
- Submitted
