Good Day Block Watch Captains, Co-Captains & Participants,
Please find Block Watch Crime Alerts for June 10th to 15th attached. West Vancouver Police have responded to 231 calls for service since our last update.
Grandparent Scam
Please regularly review Fraud prevention basics, especially with any loved ones or friends you think may be vulnerable to fraudulent pitches.
Criminals working the sadly persistent ‘Grandparent Scam’ targeted more West Vancouver residents this week. An Ambleside resident was called by a suspect asking, “Is this Grandma?” The victim has no grandchildren but unfortunately tried to be helpful and asked if it was a niece’s husband calling. The suspect promptly agreed and claimed he needed bail money. Unfortunately, victim complied & withdrew funds. A suspect claiming to be the nephew-in-law’s lawyer attended residence and took the cash.
In a second report, intended victims fortunately recognized circumstances soon enough to prevent loss. After being falsely told by a suspect that their grandchild needed bail money and withdrawing funds from the bank, the Caulfeild area couple called the suspect back and advised they could meet at the police station to complete the transaction. The suspect immediately hung up.
Avoid answering calls from numbers you don’t recognize. Let them go to voice mail, allowing you time to assess the call. Disconnect any suspicious call immediately. Directly call any relative you’re concerned about. Never offer personal or banking information. Contact their parents or other relatives even if you’ve been told your call was confidential. Never wire money or send an e-transfer to someone under uncertain conditions. Never pay with a gift card. Don’t provide your credit card number over the phone or internet unless you are sure of who you’re giving it to. Police or any government agency won’t ever insist you pay them through these methods.
Mail Theft / Loss of ID / Fraud Risk
Acting promptly to protect your accounts anytime your wallet or purse is lost or stolen can be vital to prevent or reduce losses.
A resident who lost a wallet while shopping found unauthorized charges on their account before they managed to cancel all cards. Check with your local bank branch or through online banking to find out how you can immediately & temporarily lock any cards to prevent unauthorized use until you find or replace the cards.
Meantime a resident in the Horseshoe Bay area reported fraudulent charges on an account. A replacement credit card ordered & not yet received appeared to have been stolen from the victim’s mail and activated.
Check and clear your mailbox regularly, on any scheduled delivery days if possible. Thieves can and will target mailboxes hoping to find personal or banking information that can be used to commit Fraud.
Unsecured Storage / Break-ins
We urge you to avoid being an easy target for criminals. An open garage on a residential construction site in the Stevens Drive area, and an unlocked garage in Ambleside were all the temptation that thieves needed in two separate reports to police. Storage items, a bicycle, cleaning equipment, power tools & pet supplies were among the stolen items.
WVPD in the Community
Thank you to all community members who joined our officers & staff in recent community events. On June 3rd, staff & family members made quick work of the 5km West Van Run, held in conjunction with West Vancouver Cultural Days.
On June 10th, a group of WVPD riders powered up Cypress Bowl Road in the rain and fog for the Rotary Ride for Rescue supporting North Shore Rescue and other vital North Shore community programs supported by West Vancouver Sunrise Rotary Club.
If you see suspicious activity or persons in your neighbourhood, please don’t hesitate to contact West Vancouver Police. Call 9-1-1 in an emergency. Call 604-925-7300 for a non-emergency response.
Jeff Palmer
Block Watch & Operational Support Coordinator
t: 604-925-7363 | c: 604-785-2446
Oh, my, now six months old.
One day Grampa might stop sharing pictures,….but not today ????
