West Vancouver Police have responded to 618 calls for service since our August 21st update.
For updated crime alerts anytime click westvanpolice.ca/crime-alerts
Residential B&E
Please remain alert in your neighbourhoods. There have been four residential break-ins reported since our last update August 21st. Two reports in the Chartwell area involved suspects targeting upper floor balconies. In one report the home alarm appeared to have only been triggered by suspects fleeing out a ground floor door. In the other report, a delayed relay of the alarm details to police appears to have allowed ample time for suspects to flee. Meantime, a rear patio door was smashed on a home in the West Bay area. Multiple rooms were targeted. And a home under repair in the Westhill area was broken into after suspects cut through site fencing.
We urge all residents to regularly review home security provisions, with an eye toward confirming any alarm that is installed is well maintained and functioning properly. Be mindful that burglars frequently target upper floor balconies during break-ins. Intruders can use nearby landings or trees to climb up. Some may either find a ladder in the area or bring one with them.
In several recent break-ins, thieves found no active intrusion sensors on upper floor entry points and ransacked several rooms before triggering a ground floor intrusion sensor only when they fled the property.
In another, having intrusion sensors on upper floors may have at least mitigated loss, as thieves appeared to have quickly grabbed a limited number of items from one room before fleeing the home.
Fake Ticket Text Scam Remains Active
Thanks to a Block Watch participant, we can alert you that an unfortunately common scam remains very active. The fake ticket text scam involves an unsolicited message to your cellphone, falsely claiming you have an unpaid ticket, and urging you to click on a link to resolve the issue. If you receive such a message, it is a scam. Do not click on any link. Delete the message.
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
