Good Day Block Watch Captains, Co-Captains & Participants,
West Vancouver Police have responded to 264 calls for service since our last update.
**Click Here For Updated Block Watch Crime Alerts At WestVanPolice.ca**
Check Your Home Alarm & Security Camera Systems
Officers involved in recent investigations have asked for important reminders to be passed along for anyone with homes or businesses equipped with alarms or security camera systems. Alarm & surveillance systems can significantly improve property security, quickly alerting you & police to any intrusion attempt, and provide real assistance to investigators working to identify and arrest offenders.
It is vital to regularly ensure any security system you have is well maintained and working properly. Be sure the system is properly set before going out for any period. Take time to make yourself familiar with all features of your system and be able to operate and properly set it. For security camera owners, working knowledge of the system should include, being familiar with and able to operate any video playback features when needed.
If there is an offence on a property, and cameras have captured evidence that could help, unfamiliarity with your system could delay getting valuable images to investigators.
Regularly check if cameras are operating properly, are placed to capture the best quality images, and are not obstructed in any way. In recent circumstances, investigators have found something as simple as spiderwebs that could easily be swept away can significantly reduce quality & clarity of an image and make it unusable for identification purposes.
Fraud
Three very familiar Fraud pitches in our Crime Alerts this week. Versions of the Purchase Overpayment, Lottery Winner Processing Fee, & “The Bank Wants Gift Cards To Pay For Replacment of Your Compromised Credit Card” were reported. Review Crime Alerts for details, and contact the Coordinator for more fraud prevention information.
Theft
Black Friday sales last week officially launch the peak of the holiday shopping season for many. Alert security staff making quick calls to police helped put three suspects in custody in two separate incidents near Taylor Way & Marine Drive, one a theft from a store, the second a theft from a vehicle.
We say this very frequently, but especially at this time of year, we urge you not to leave items of value in an unattended vehicle, at home or while shopping, especially if items can be seen from outside the vehicle.
It can take just seconds for an offender to smash a side window & leave with your gifts or personal items.
18th WV Emergency Services Gift Drive Continues
Week One is done as we work to help North Shore Children & Families in need this Holiday Season!From now through December 20th, 2023, we are accepting donations of new, unwrapped gifts for children & teens aged 18 or younger. Donations are delivered to the North Shore Family Services Christmas Bureau which helps families facing financial challenges provide a happy holiday season for their children. We are grateful for community support over the 18 years that we have teamed up for this drive.
Please note we cannot accept cash donations, used toys or stuffed animal toys.
Donations are accepted at West Vancouver Police Headquarters/District Hall Atrium, 755 16th Street – Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm, all West Vancouver Fire & Rescue Halls, Hall #1 – 760 16th Street, Hall #2 – 6772 Marine Drive, Hall #3 – 4895 Marine Drive, Hall #4 – 965 Cross Creek Rd, or West Vancouver Transit – Headquarters – 221 Lloyd Avenue, North Vancouver(Monday to Friday 8a-5p)
For more information on how to support our drive you can contact your friendly Block Watch Coordinator at 604-925-7363 or by email at [email protected].
If you see any 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 between our weekly updates click westvanpolice.ca/crime-alerts.
Jeff Palmer
Block Watch & Operational Support Coordinator
t: 604-925-7363
