Sunshine Coast RCMP reported the following from May 26 to 31:
Impaired Driving
• On May 26, police came upon a vehicle that had been driven into a concrete barrier on Highway 101 near Ti’Ta Way, Sechelt. Police found the lone driver and occupant exhibiting signs of possible impairment by alcohol and gave him a roadside alcohol screening test. After two fail results, the driver was issued a 90- day Immediate Roadside Prohibition and his vehicle was impounded for thirty days. The matter has been referred to RoadSafetyBC.
• On May 26, a witness reported a possible impaired driver leaving the 1100 block of Highway 101, Gibsons. Police located the suspect driver and vehicle nearby and initiated a traffic stop. The driver, who was exhibiting signs of possible intoxication from alcohol, was given a roadside alcohol screening test. After two fail results, the driver was issued a 90-day Immediate Roadside Prohibition and his vehicle was impounded for thirty days. The matter has been referred to RoadSafetyBC.
• On May 26, police attended a two-vehicle incident in the 5500 block of Highway 101, Sechelt, after the first vehicle pulled out suddenly out of a parking lot and collided into the second vehicle which was travelling eastbound. Fortunately, no injuries from either driver were reported, but both vehicles had to be towed from the scene. The driver of the first vehicle advised she’d consumed alcohol earlier in the day and was given a roadside alcohol screening test. After two fail results, the driver was issued a 90-Day Immediate Roadside Prohibition and her vehicle was impounded for thirty days. The matter has been referred to RoadSafetyBC.
• Late on May 27, police witnessed a possible impaired driver swerving over the yellow line and travelling at erratic speeds while southbound on Highway 101 near Largo Road, Roberts Creek. Police initiated a traffic stop and the driver, who was exhibiting signs of possible intoxication from alcohol, eventually agreed to taking a roadside alcohol screening test. After a warn and fail result, the driver was issued a three-day Immediate Roadside Prohibition and the vehicle was impounded for seventy-two hours. The matter has been referred to RoadSafetyBC.
• On May 29, police witnessed a possible impaired driver eastbound on Cowrie Street, Sechelt. Police initiated a traffic stop and noted the driver exhibiting signs of possible impairment from alcohol as well as an open can of alcohol in the centre console. The driver was given a roadside alcohol screening test but after multiple failed attempts to provide a suitable breath sample, was issued a 90-day Refusal/Immediate Roadside Prohibition and his vehicle was impounded for thirty days. The matter has been referred to RoadSafetyBC.
Collision
• On May 27, police attended a single vehicle incident in the 3100 block of Highway 101, Roberts Creek, after the Roberts Creek Volunteer Fire Department and Emergency Health Services reported a vehicle flipped over in the ditch with the lone driver still trapped inside. The unimpaired driver advised that she’d lost control on the road while heading eastbound and swerved to avoid on-coming traffic. The driver was successfully extricated and taken to Sechelt Hospital for non-life threatening injuries. Weather and road conditions are believed to have been factors. The totalled vehicle was towed and the matter has been referred to ICBC.
Theft of Bike
• Sometime between May 16 and 26, a suspect stole a bike that had been stored outside a residence in the 5600 block of Beach Street, Sechelt. The bike is described as a Dark Purple Schwinn mountain bike with an extra large seat.
• Overnight on May 29, a suspect stole two vintage bicycles by cutting through locks securing them to a deck at a residence in the 5500 block of Wharf Avenue, Sechelt. One bike is described as a blue 1963 Schwinn with distinctive U-shaped handles and the other is a gold 1970 Champion with a banana seat, a speed shifter, and ape-hanger handle bars with yellow grips. Some tools that had been stolen at the same time have since been recovered but the bikes are still missing. Both bikes have a lot of rust on them but hold great sentimental value for the owner. Anyone with any information about this theft is asked to contact RCMP, reference police file 2021-3438.
Scam
• On May 29, a coast resident reported falling for a fraudulent computer pop-up message which appeared while the resident was on a Zoom meeting. The pop-up message appeared to be from Apple, and contained a message telling the resident he had to contact them immediately at the phone number provided. The resident called the number and was convinced to give up his full name, Social insurance Number, and credit card information to deal with an urgent issue. The resident was then directed to go buy Apple gift cards which is when the resident realized he was being scammed. The resident was advised to contact a credit monitoring agency to prevent any possible future identity theft and his financial institutions as well. To learn more about common scams and how to protect yourself from falling victim, please visit sites such as the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre at www.antifraudcentre-centreantifraude.ca or the Better Business Bureau at www.bbb.org.
Prohibited Driving
• On May 29, a witness reported a possible impaired driver on Highway 101 in Madeira Park. Police made patrols and located the suspect vehicle and driver on Hallowell Road. Police determined the driver did not possess a valid driver’s licence and that there was an outstanding warrant from another jurisdiction for driving while prohibited. The driver was arrested and taken to the detachment where he was eventually released on a Recognizance of Bail. The vehicle was also impounded.
Fraud
• On May 31, a coast resident reported an attempted fraud after receiving a letter from an unknown person with the Subject line I HACKED YOUR SYSTEM. The email, which never addresses the recipient directly by name, nor includes any actual specific details, says the hacker has been watching the recipient’s computer activity for months and has gathered sensitive information including passwords to financial accounts. The hacker demands the recipient pay them a specified amount in Bitcoin, or the hacker will release all the information they’ve gathered. The resident contacted his bank and closed down his on-line account. The resident is also getting his computer professionally serviced. While it is likely this email was a phishing attempt and not an actual hacking, police remind the public to monitor their financial accounts and educate themselves on how to protect their personal information by visiting sites such as the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre at www.antifraudcentre-centreantifraude.ca or the Better Business Bureau at www.bbb.org.
- Cst. Karen Whitby, Sunshine Coast RCMP
