Good Day Block Watch Captains, Co-Captains & Participants,
West Vancouver Police have responded to 295 calls for service since our last update.
Click https://westvanpolice.ca/crime-alerts/ For Updated Crime Alerts
***Our next Block Watch Crime Alerts & Coordinator’s Update will be August 8th **
Global Computer Issues – Expect More Scam Calls & Emails
Cybersecurity experts are warning computer users world-wide to be on-alert for increasing scam attempts following last week’s global computer outages. You are urged to be aware of criminals claiming to be tech specialists offering to help you and your computer recover from the outage caused by a faulty software update from a major cybersecurity firm, CrowdStrike. These fraudulent pitches will attempt to fool you, by offering fake fixes while attempting to collect your personal or banking information and payment for unnecessary work. West Vancouver Block Watch urges you to do exactly as one of our longtime Block Captains did. They were greeted by a caller claiming to be from the IT Department at Microsoft, wanting to check the Windows programs on their computer. To quote our Captain, “We hung up, it was too obvious.”
Construction Site Break-Ins
Two more reports of Construction Site Break-ins this past week. Power tools were stolen from a residential construction site in the Lawrence Way / Sunset Marina after a lock on the site fencing gate was cut. Toolboxes & tools were stolen from a site in the West Chippendale area of the British Properties from a site with unsecured fencing. If you have a project under way on your property, we urge you to include security provisions in your site & construction planning.
Theft
Investigations are ongoing following two Theft of Auto reports in the British Properties over the past week. A vehicle in the Eyremont area was stolen from a residential driveway.
The vehicle had been left unlocked with a key inside. The vehicle had onboard tracking and was later recovered unoccupied in the area. A second vehicle was reported stolen from the Groveland area. The method of theft is undetermined. All keys for the vehicle in the 2nd report are believed to be accounted for. Please ensure your vehicles and any keys are secure. Be alert to any suspicious persons or activity in your neighbourhood.
Bicycle Locks
Another reminder to consider the quality of locks used to secure bicycles. A bicycle was reported stolen off a vehicle rack in the Farmleigh area of the British Properties after the lock was cut. . Alternatively, consider taking time to store the bicycle securely indoors if your lock could be easily compromised. Many commercially available Cable Locks can be easily & quickly cut with wire cutters.
A second report involved an apparent attempted theft near Taylor Way & Marine Drive. A rider returned to find the cable on their bike lock cut almost through. Fortunately, the bicycle itself was not damaged in the attempt.
A Quick Call To Police
This week’s alerts include another demonstration of the value of a timely call to police with good information for responding officers. Police were called immediately when a caller noted a Theft From Auto in progress in retail parking near Taylor Way & Marine Drive. Responding officers were able to locate, identify and arrest a suspect as they were attempting to board a transit bus out of the area.
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
