West Vancouver Police have responded to 303 calls for service since our August 7th update.
For updated crime alerts anytime click westvanpolice.ca/crime-alerts
Bear Safety Reminder
Calls for service this week included bears becoming unwanted guests at a British Properties home amid inattention to bear safety basics. A family in the Southborough area were enjoying an afternoon in their yard, when they suddenly noticed two bears in the doorway of their home. Officers attended and confirmed the bears had cleared the home & left the area. It appeared the bears were attracted by fruit snacks left in an open laundry room. Black bears on the North Shore have very sensitive noses and can detect foods, especially sweet foods from great distances, and they are very active at this time of year.
It is important to avoid providing bears human sourced food & food waste. That puts bears & humans at increased risk, as bears will repeatedly return to any location where they find an easy meal.
What can you do to help? Keep ground level windows and doors of your home closed whenever leaving entry points unattended. Avoid storing any food or attractants in your vehicles, your garage, storage sheds or anywhere on your property where the odours can be detected from outside. Take care to manage the odours inside your garage and outdoor storage. Freeze all meat & fish scraps and grease until collection morning. Wash your recyclables in hot soapy water. Wash organic, garbage & recycling containers and surrounding areas with vinegar. Place diapers in the garbage cart on the morning of collection after first flushing any solids.
For detailed information on safely managing bear attractants and reducing your risk of interactions with bears click https://northshorebears.com/
Fraud
There’s no summer break for Fraud suspects. Eight Fraud reports have been made to West Vancouver Police since July 1st. While that is well down from 28 Fraud reports during the same period in 2024, we urge community members to remain vigilant. A report from one resident this week is typical of many calls. A victim received call from suspect claiming to be staff at their bank, and falsely claiming there had been fraudulent transactions on their account. The victim was then persuaded to enter their banking information on a website, claiming it was a place to formally report the fraud. Unauthorized transactions on their account began soon after. Be very suspicious of any such call. If you receive this kind of call, hang-up and call your bank or financial institution directly from a different phone or attend your bank in person to confirm safety of your accounts.
Block Watch Leads & Co-Leads
The Block Watch Society of BC has officially changed the title of “Block Watch Captain” to “Block Watch Lead”. The new name is intended to be more inclusive and collaborative, modernizing the title, while emphasizing coordination and facilitation rather than implying a role of authority. Responsibilities of the role remain the same. Thank you all for your continued volunteer work and support of Block Watch.
Anytime you see activity of concern, please don’t hesitate to call West Vancouver Police. Call 604-925-7300 for non-emergency matters. Call 9-1-1 in an emergency, including events that involve an immediate threat to a person or property or to report a substantive crime in progress. For updated crime alerts anytime click westvanpolice.ca/crime-alerts.
Jeff Palmer
Block Watch & Operational Support Coordinator
West Vancouver Police
t: 604-925-7300
