Two New Zealand nationals are in good condition after spending the night stranded in the backcountry.
On Monday, Feb. 17, a man reported his friends missing after he was separated from them while touring the backcountry in the area around Khyber Pass, according to RCMP Staff Sgt. Steve LeClair.
Whistler Search and Rescue crews attempted to fly into the area the following morning via helicopter but were unable to do so due to heavy snowfall, police said. Rescue personnel travelled part of the way on snowmobile and then switched to skis. They were able to locate the missing men around 11 a.m. using the GPS coordinates of one of the subject’s cell phone.
The men, 21 and 25 years old, were given food, warm fluids and clothing and were walked out of the backcountry on snowshoes, before being transported to their residence.
Sexual assault reported in backcountry hut
An unknown man staying in a backcountry hut north of Pemberton allegedly sexually assaulted a woman on Feb. 16, according to the RCMP.
The complainant told police that a man staying in the cabin that night introduced himself, and sometime between midnight and 3 a.m. began rubbing the woman’s back. He then allegedly touched the female’s breast without her consent, and was slapped by the woman who told him his actions were inappropriate. The suspect was then escorted out of the backcountry by an unknown third party said LeClair. Police are continuing to investigate in an attempt to identify the suspect.
Nearly $4,000 stolen from safe at local business
A business in Mountain Square reported the theft of $3,975 from a safe on Feb. 14.
A male suspect was captured on surveillance video said Staff Sgt. Steve LeClair. The investigation is ongoing.
Rash of vehicle break-ins reported on Valentine’s Day
Three separate thefts from vehicles around Whistler were reported on Valentine’s Day, said police.
A man told police he returned to his vehicle in Day Lot 5 in the afternoon to find the passenger side door slightly ajar, said Staff Sgt. Steve LeClair, who indicated the suspect may have accessed the vehicle using a screwdriver. A pair of toolboxes valued at $150 each were stolen.
The same day another complainant contacted police to report that the rear side window of his truck had been smashed.
The vehicle parked in Day Lot 1 appeared to have been rummaged through, and police found a pair of wirecutters and a glassine envolope, which is being analyzed for fingerprints, said LeClair.
The trouble continued on Valentine’s Day with a third report of a vehicle break-in — this time from an underground parking lot on London Lane.
The complainant told police that sometime between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. a suspect pried open the rear passenger window of the vehicle and allegedly stole a camera, an external hard drive, a necklace, a guitar and an amp, valued at around $3,000.
Ice rink thief has disco fever
And they said disco was dead.
RCMP was informed Feb. 12 of an alleged theft of a disco ball hanging over the ice rink at Olympic Plaza, which is believed to have occurred sometime overnight between Jan. 19 and 20, said Staff Sgt. Steve LeClair.
Police believe a ladder was used to steal the one-metre round disco ball, valued at $2,000.
Anyone with information is asked to contact Whistler RCMP.
