Good Day Block Watch Captains, Co-Captains & Participants,

West Vancouver Police have responded to 318 calls for service since our May 9th Block Watch Crime Prevention Update.

Click Here For Updated West Vancouver Crime Alerts

Late Spring Into Summer – Calls for Service Increase

You may have noticed calls for Police Service trending upward over the past several weeks.  This is consistent with years past as we head from Spring into Summer. This can be driven by several factors, including more people being out and active in public places for longer hours amid warmer weather and Grad Season.  Unfortunately, this can include responses involving violence in public & commercial areas.  Additional patrols targeting areas of concern are underway, with officers on foot, bicycles and vehicles. 

Officers conducting extra patrols in the Ambleside/John Lawson Park & adjacent commercial areas were confronted & one officer was assaulted by a male suspect over the past week.  The suspect was quickly arrested without further incident. 

Calls this week also included staff in a retail outlet in the Taylor Way/Marine Drive area assaulted by a suspect. Officers responded quickly, found & arrested the suspect in the area.

Officers conducting proactive patrols also encountered individuals in three separate circumstances the Taylor Way / Marine Drive area that were found to be subject of Arrest Warrants for police agencies in other jurisdictions.  All three individuals were arrested without incident.

Fraud

A sadly common fraud tactic returned this past week.  A resident working for a new employer received an email from a suspect posing as their boss.  The email directed the victim to purchase gift cards for an employee recognition program and forward card details electronically.  Funds from the cards were transferred before the victim realized it was a scam.  Someone suddenly requesting a transfer sizeable amounts of money by gift cards for any reason is a near certain sign of a fraud in progress.  Check with the person portrayed in any such email or text through separate means of communication to confirm the request before proceeding.

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.  

For updated crime alerts anytime click westvanpolice.ca/crime-alerts.  

Jeff Palmer

Block Watch & Operational Support Coordinator

West Vancouver Police

t: 604-925-7300