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RCMP: Dine and dash trend continues

In the past year the Whistler RCMP have addressed a rash of car thefts, hotel and restaurant break-ins, bike thefts, impaired drivers, and bank card identity theft on top of the usual variety of cases. But the latest crime trend has police baffled.

In the past year the Whistler RCMP have addressed a rash of car thefts, hotel and restaurant break-ins, bike thefts, impaired drivers, and bank card identity theft on top of the usual variety of cases. But the latest crime trend has police baffled.

Last week the RCMP responded to reports of two dine-and-dashes, both of which resulted in the offenders agreeing to pay back the money with the police acting as the intermediary.

This week they added three more cases to their files.

On March 23 at 8:28 p.m. the police received a report of a fight on Village Stroll. They arrived to find two males in an altercation. The police determined that one of the males skipped out on a $135 bill at a local restaurant and the second male was an employee of the restaurant who ran after the person and challenged them. The suspect agreed to pay the bill.

On March 24 the RCMP received a call about a dine-and-dash at a restaurant in the village. After getting a description of the suspect from staff they located the person, who agreed to pay the bill of $380 to avoid charges.

On March 24 between 6 and 7 p.m. the police received a report of a dine and dash for $75. The individual is described as French Canadian, Caucasian, about five-foot-10 and 180 pounds, and roughly 30 years old. According to the restaurant the individual, who dined alone, got up several times during dinner to go for a cigarette and then never returned.

The RCMP believe the same person may have been responsible for another dine-and-dash reported on March 19 or 20. A man matching the suspect's description skipped out on a $150 bill after going outside to smoke.

Staff Sergeant Steve LeClair of the Whistler RCMP said he didn't know whether the dine-and-dash trend is a recent development, or whether it was only being reported to police recently. He said he would check with the local restaurant association to find out whether their members are experiencing more dine-and-dash instances, while warning them about the recent rash of cases reported.


RCMP investigate on-mountain assault

The RCMP are looking for more information regarding an assault on a snowboarder on Whistler Mountain on March 24.

At 1:55 p.m. the police received a report that a skier assaulted a snowboarder with a ski pole after a near collision on the mountain. The ski pole snapped in the attack and the snowboarder was left with a bruised arm.

The incident occurred on Whistler Mountain and the police sent officers to the base of Whistler Village and Creekside to try to locate the suspect. They were unsuccessful.

The skier is described as six-foot-two with a heavy build, a partial red beard, wearing a navy-blue Kokanee jacket. He was described as a proficient skier.

 

Locksmith tools stolen

The RCMP are investigating a vehicle break-in of a locksmith truck in Alpine Meadows, which occurred overnight from March 29-30. Several tools were taken including a key duplication machine, a grinder, blank keys and lock-picking tools. The investigation is ongoing.


Impaired drivers catch themselves

Police arrested two drivers under the influence last week after responding to other traffic violations.

On March 27 at 1:26 a.m. the RCMP observed a vehicle leave the day skier lots without stopping at the stop sign. They pulled the vehicle over. The police detected an odor of alcohol and used the roadside screening device, which the 34-year-old Whistler male failed. The suspect was then brought in to RCMP headquarters for a breathalyzer, providing two samples of 0.140 milligrams per 100 millilitres of blood. He is facing charges of impaired driving and driving over 0.08. He will appear in court on May 12.

On March 28 at 3:30 a.m. the RCMP stopped a vehicle with a burned out taillight and also detected signs of intoxication. After failing the roadside test the 31-year-old Alberta male was brought to the detachment and provided samples of .110 and .100. His is also facing charges of impaired driving and driving over 0.08. He will appear in court on May 19.

In a similar case the RCMP stopped a driver on March 26 at 7:21 p.m. for failing to signal. They soon after determined that the driver, a 27-year-old Whistler male, was prohibited from driving as a result of an earlier offence.

 

Shoplifter gets away

At 7 p.m. March 25 the RCMP responded to a report of a shoplifter in the village who ran out of a local store wearing a Mackage leather jacket. The suspect is described as a short, thin female aged 18 to 25 with long dark hair.

 

Whistler woman busted with cocaine

At 10:45 p.m. on March 25 the Whistler RCMP arrested a 23-year-old female resident of Whistler in connection to an ongoing drug investigation. A search of the vehicle turned up 4.5 grams of cocaine, $160 in cash and two cell phones. The woman is facing charges of possession of a controlled substance.