Sunshine Coast RCMP reported the following for March 25 to 31:
Mischief/theft
• Overnight on March 25, a thief gained entry to a vehicle parked in the 5600 block of Inlet Avenue in Sechelt.
The owner advised that while nothing of value was stolen, there were a number of documents with personal information inside the vehicle. Police remind the public not to leave items such as cheques, bills or credit card statements in vehicles, because any combination of personal information makes them vulnerable to identity theft. The owner was advised to periodically check their credit report for any suspicious activity.
• On March 26, a thief stole a tip jar from a restaurant in the 5500 block of Wharf Avenue in Sechelt. Staff witnessed the female suspect take the golden pig shaped jar and hide it in her jacket before leaving the premises. A possible suspect has been identified, and the file is still under investigation.
Scams
• A Coast resident reported falling for a version of the popular overpayment scam after responding to a job ad for a Secret Shopper.
The resident was "hired" to test a local bank's automatic teller machine and was sent a cheque from the "employer" to deposit into her account. The resident was instructed to keep half of cheque's amount as payment and to wire half of the money back to the employer. The resident did as instructed and later learned that the "employer's" cheque was fraudulent and that she was now out the amount she sent them.
To learn more about common scams and how to protect yourself, please go to sites like www.antifraudcentre-centreantifraude.ca for more information.
Traffic
• On March 25, police attended a single-vehicle collision on Highway 101 near Leaning Tree Road in Halfmoon Bay.
The vehicle drifted off road onto the shoulder before rolling in a deep ditch and landing on its roof. The driver and passenger were able to get themselves out of the destroyed vehicle and neither suffered any significant injuries. A combination of rain, poor tires and driver error is believed to be a factor, and the matter has been referred to ICBC.
• Early on March 29, vandals in a pickup truck were witnessed doing doughnuts on the school field at Halfmoon Bay Elementary School. Witnesses tried to stop the suspects, but they fled the area. Fortunately, a witness was able to provide the truck’s license plate, description, and the address it went to.
Police located the registered owner, who refused to identify the person driving his vehicle at the time of the incident. The owner was issued violation tickets for driving without due care and failing to remain at the scene.
• On March 29, police witnessed a vehicle on Gibsons Way heading towards North Road that was swerving in its lane. Police initiated a traffic stop and spoke with the driver, who exhibited signs of intoxication. The driver was given and failed two roadside alcohol-screening tests and was issued a 90-day immediate roadside prohibition and her vehicle was impounded for 30 days.
Break and enters
• On March 26 or 27, a thief gained entry to a residence in the 700 block of Hillcrest Road in Gibsons, by lifting a rear patio door off its tracks. The thief stole a grey Toshiba laptop computer, emptied a backpack on the floor, and rifled through a medicine cabinet. The file is still under investigation.
• Overnight on March 30, thieves gained entry to a property in the 16100 block of Highway 101 in Ruby Lake, and stole a Kawasaki ATV, an ATV trailer, a lawn mower and two jet skis. The thieves removed a lock from a gate to gain entry.
Anyone with any information about this theft is asked to contact RCMP at 604-885-2266 and reference file 15-1894.
• Around 7 p.m. on March 30, a male and a female broke into Coast Storage and Containers in Madeira Park. The pair gained access to two storage lockers with belongings in them, and stole numerous items, including several Dewalt and Ryobi power tools. The file is still under investigation, but anyone with information is asked to call Sunshine Coast RCMP or Crimestoppers, at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).
