Skip to content
Join our Newsletter

Men sought in Whistler crime spree

The RCMP are reviewing security camera footage from several locations to attempt to identify two men wanted for breaking into 15 vehicles and personal lockers in Whistler overnight on Dec. 18- 19.

The RCMP are reviewing security camera footage from several locations to attempt to identify two men wanted for breaking into 15 vehicles and personal lockers in Whistler overnight on Dec. 18- 19. Most of the vehicles were in underground parking garages.

It's believed that the two male suspects stole a silver 1999 or 2000 Volkswagen Passat from Vancouver on Dec. 18, then made their way to Whistler to rob from cars and storage units. They punched out locks to access vehicles and used a pry bar on doors and lockers.

At 5:30 a.m. on the morning of Dec. 19, unaware of the thefts, the RCMP may have seen the vehicle at a highway safety check. A vehicle matching that description sped through a check stop, and the police gave chase. Due to the high rate of speed and possibility of an accident the RCMP broke off the chase.

After viewing the tape and confirming the type of car and year with a Volkswagen dealership, the Whistler RCMP contacted police in Vancouver and found that a car was taken that matched the description of the vehicle in Whistler.

The vehicle was found in Vancouver on Dec. 20.

The RCMP are continuing to investigate, going through security footage and working with Vancouver police to identify the suspects.

The police remind people never to leave valuables in their vehicles. If you saw a car matching that description please contact the Whistler RCMP at 604-932-3044 or contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).

The RCMP do not know at this point if the same suspects are behind two other storage locker break-ins reported earlier in the week.

On Dec. 15, the police attended a call to the 3000-block of Hillcrest Drive where a storage locker was broken into. It didn't appear at first glance that anything had been taken, but one of the residents called the police to report the theft of two Transition bikes and a Dakine backpack containing a camera and other personal items.

On Dec. 16, the RCMP attended a call at the 4200 block of Mountain Square after a break-in at a storage locker utilized by three or four local businesses. It appeared that the lock had been pried. The RCMP are investigating both incidents, and waiting for the business owners to compile a list of stolen items.

On Dec. 18 the RCMP also received a report that a vehicle was broken into in a hotel parking garage on Dec. 15. There was no sign of forced entry, but the thief took a camera bag containing a Canon 70 DSLR valued at $3,400, a video camera worth $350 and a pair of ski goggles with a built-in camera worth $2,000.

 

Pemberton man arrested on warrants

A 20-year-old Pemberton male was arrested on three oustanding warrants from Burnaby and Lillooet on Dec. 16, after a chase that started on Portage Road and ended on the 7400 block of Frontier Street. The RCMP chased the individual on foot and in a vehicle. Members of the community pointed them in the right direction.

On arrest, the RCMP discovered that the man was in possession of a knife with a 10 cm blade, which goes against a recognizance issued by a Vancouver court regarding another offence.

The individual made his first court appearance in Burnaby on Dec. 20.

 

Intoxicated man attacks police

Just after midnight on Dec. 17 the Whistler RCMP were called to the Gondola Transit Exchange where a drunk male was passed out. When the RCMP attempted to arrest the individual for being drunk in public he resisted police officers and head-butted one officer in the cheek. He was taken to the Whistler detachment, where he was found to be in possession of a partially smoked joint and six orange pills which are being identified. A 38-year-old Whistler male who is known to police was arrested for assaulting a police officer. Other charges may be pending.

 

Impaired drivers still being caught

The Whistler RCMP nabbed two drunk drivers this week, and once again the drivers have only themselves to blame after giving themselves away.

On Dec. 18, a police foot patrol observed a vehicle driving down Village Gate Boulevard and honking its horn for no apparent reason. The officer contacted a vehicle unit, which stopped the car at Highway 99 and Alta Vista.

The driver admitted to drinking and failed the approved roadside screening device. A 21-year-old male from Washington was given a 90-day driving prohibition and his vehicle was impounded for 30 days.

On Dec. 19 at 11:20 p.m. the RCMP spotted a running vehicle in the Lakeside Park lot, and decided to investigate. They knocked on the window to speak to the male, and were greeted with a strong odour of liquor. Upon investigation they discovered bottles of rum and wine in the car, and a cup containing a cola and rum drink.

The male, a 41-year-old with a U.K. driving licence, was given a 90-day driving prohibition and his vehicle impounded for 30 days.

 

Street racers' vehicles impounded

At 4:15 p.m. on Dec. 18 the Whistler RCMP received a report that two vehicles were racing one another northbound from Squamish, passing other vehicles and travelling at a high rate of speed.

The RCMP intercepted the vehicles and discovered that both of the drivers were 17 and held Class 7 beginner licences. Under the new dangerous driving laws, both drivers had their parents' vehicles - a 1992 Honda Prelude and a 2011 Audi A4 - impounded for seven days. One of the drivers was also charged for not displaying his learner sticker.

A 17 year old from Port Moody and a 17 year old from Coquitlam were involved.

 

Man sought after rental fraud

On Dec. 19 the RCMP received a call that a tenant was defrauded of $500 by an individual claiming to be subletting his room at the 6100-block of Eagle Drive.

Following that first call the RCMP received at least 11 others from individuals that were taken in by the same scam.

According to the police the individual advertised the room on Craigslist and in Pique Newsmagazine , then offered it to individuals in exchange for paying back his damage deposit on the room. All of the individuals showed up at the house to find that the room was already rented and the person had left town.

He is described as male with an English accent.

If you have been targetted in the same fraud contact the Whistler RCMP at 604-932-3044.