A 39-year-old Squamish male known to police was arrested for breaching his release conditions after he was found in possession of a knife during an investigation into an attempted theft of a bike.
The police got the call just after 10 p.m. on Sept. 11. A resident on the 2200 block of Sapporo Drive was investigating noises and turned on a porch light, interrupting a male who he believed was attempting to steal his bike. The RCMP patrolled the area and came upon an individual who matched the description of the suspected thief.
There was no proof the male was involved, but during the investigation they discovered that he was breaching his conditions not to carry a knife. The RCMP is now pursuing an investigation on the breach. The man continues to be a person of interest in the attempted bike theft.
Attempted Craigslist fraud reported
A common fraud got a new twist this week when the RCMP received a complaint of a suspected fraud on Sept. 11.
According to the individual targetted in the fraud, he had placed an ad on Craigslist offering his services as a guitar instructor. He then heard back from an individual in the U.K. claiming to be purchasing lessons for his son in Whistler.
European travellers cheques arrived for more money than the instructor charged, at which point he was contacted by the father claiming to have made a mistake and asking the man to wire the difference.
Suspicious, the man contacted the credit union listed on the traveller's cheques and confirmed they were not valid, then contacted the RCMP.
Said Staff Sergeant Steve LeClair, "If someone overpays for something and requests a refund, that's a red flag that they're trying to defraud you."
The fraud has been perpetrated in Whistler before, typically in relation to house and room rentals.
RCMP warn against card skimmers
Scammers may have been placing skimming devices onto automated banking machines in Whistler and the Lower Mainland, prompting RCMP to issue a warning to shoppers and employees to be on the lookout for the machines. The RCMP was contacted by an investigative police section on Sept. 12, related to skimming that reportedly took place on Aug. 23.
The RCMP visited the business with the ATM that may have been used in the skimming operation, but could find no sign of an attached skimmer device or camera that was used to capture PIN numbers. However, they do have video evidence from similar activities in the Lower Mainland.
The skimmers use modified card readers or sliders that capture a person's bank card numbers and PIN codes, then create their own cards that they used to withdraw money or make purchases. As well, some scammers use cameras that capture both the numbers on the cards as well as the card owners movements entering PIN numbers.
The RCMP issued the following advice to business owners, including regularly inspecting in-store ATMs and PIN pads, as well as keeping PIN pads behind the counter when not in use.
If you have any information regarding card skimming, contact the RCMP at 604-938-0202, ext. 231 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).
Squamish RCMP seek suspicious male
The RCMP are investigating after a suspicious male in a vehicle drove by a school bus stop on Tuesday, Sept. 11 several times, staring at a girl waiting for her bus. When the bus arrived and she got on, she saw the same male pulled over, speaking to a blonde female who was seen shaking her head to indicate "no" to the driver.
The RCMP want to talk to the blonde female, who is descried as being skinny with highlighted blonde hair, carrying a brown leather bag and wearing jeans and a white shirt with blue stripes. She was likely in her late teens.
The suspicious male is described as being in his mid-30s with brown spiky hair, wearing a grey top with a big silver chain. He was described as big with a long chin. He was driving a green or turquoise vehicle, possibly a Pontiac Sunfire or Dodge Cavalier.
If you have any information, contact the Squamish RCMP at 1-604-892-6100, or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).
