POLICE BEAT: Weekend sees thefts, arrest, MVA, fraud
By Trail Champion
From Friday, Aug. 9 to Sunday Aug. 12, 2019, the Trail and Greater District Detachment RCMP had a busy summer weekend by responding to 71 calls for service from the public.
Theft from Vehicles
On Friday, Aug. 9, sometime overnight, two fishing rods and a tackle box were stolen from an unlocked vehicle in the 2100 block of Topping Street.
A wallet containing BC driver’s licence, a credit and debit card, and other cards was stolen from an unlocked vehicle in the 1900 block of Fifth Avenue.
On Aug. 10, between 1 and 7 a.m., a wallet containing a credit card and a ring were stolen from an unlocked vehicle in the 1600 block of Main Street. The RCMP conducted an investigation into the use of the stolen credit card and arrested a 39-year-old Trail resident for Possession of Property Obtained by Crime contrary to Section 355 of the Criminal Code of Canada and Use of a Credit Card contrary to Section 342(1) of the Criminal Code of Canada.
The 39-year-old male will make his first appearance in Provincial Court, in Rossland on Oct. 10, 2019.
On Aug. 12, at 6:03 a.m. a wallet containing BC driver’s licence, a BC Care Card, two credit cards, and 2 debit cards was stolen from an unlocked vehicle in the 1900 block of Fifth Avenue.
A neighbour spotted a suspect breaking into the vehicle and chased him off. The suspect was described as an average build, wearing black clothes, a black baseball hat, with his face covered.
The Trail and Greater District RCMP received three additional reports of suspect(s) trying unsuccessfully to break into locked vehicles. The locked vehicles deterred the thefts. The RCMP remind the public that thieves are activity targeting unlocked vehicles and their contents. The RCMP would also like to advise the public that unsecured credit cards and debit cards with the “tap” result in further criminal acts when used by the suspects. The RCMP have to invest significant additional investigation times over small amount of money being charged to the cards through the “tap” function used at local business. Please take steps to secure your credit and debit cards in order to prevent these types of crime from occurring.
Failure to Exchange Information
On Friday, Aug. 9, at 12:30 p.m. the Trail and Greater District Detachment RCMP received a report of a motor vehicle incident between two vehicles on Second Avenue and Hwy 3B. The driver of a black sedan (possibly an Impala) involved in the incident had failed to provide his information to the other party before leaving the scene. The RCMP are requesting the driver of the black sedan or anyone with information on his identity contact the Trail and Greater District Detachment with this information at 250-364-2566.
Failing to exchange information can result in a $368 violation ticket under Section 68(1)(c) of the BC Motor Vehicle Act. Criminal charges for failing to remain at the scene of an accident can also be considered in these types of incidents.
Rental Fraud
On Aug. 9, at 4 p.m. the Trail and Greater District Detachment received a report of a rental fraud from a 37-year-old Rossland male. The male sent a $500 ‘safety deposit’ electronically via email to an unknown person who had promised to rent him a residence in Castlegar. The male later discovered that there was no rental and he had been the victim of a fraud.
The RCMP remind the public to not send money electronically unless you know and trust the other party. In tight rental markets, these scams become much more frequent and it may be difficult to recover money paid out electronically.
Comments