Squamish RCMP are asking for the public's help in a series of recent break, enter and theft incidents at homes in Garibaldi Highlands.
Last week, police reported two home break-ins in the Ayr Drive area with similar circumstances. Another home break-in occurred last Thursday (March 10) in the 40200 block of Kintyre Drive. The latter incident occurred sometime between 8:20 a.m. and 3:20 p.m., when a laptop computer and other items were taken, RCMP Staff Sgt. Guy Pollock said in a statement.
Based on their investigations, police have released brief descriptions of two suspects. Both are Caucasian males, aged 17 to 22 with slim builds, possibly wearing plaid jackets, running shoes and toques. They have been going door to door in Garibaldi Highlands between March 5 and 10 in apparent attempts to case homes for possible break-ins.
Police have also determined that that males selling magazine subscriptions in the neighbourhood from Feb. 28 to March 6 were representing a legitimate business and are not considered suspects in the series of break-ins.
Police are investigating the break-ins and ask anyone who believes he or she has spotted the suspects to phone police immediately -with the suspects still in view, if possible - and to remain on the phone until police arrive. "Where possible, attain a discreet photo and record details of clothing, direction of travel, vehicles, etc.," Pollock said.
Those with information are asked to call Squamish RCMP at (604) 892-6100 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS).
Prohibited driver's vehicle impounded
On Wednesday, March 9, an RCMP officer stopped a Chevy Suburban with Washington licence plates as it was turning south on Highway 99 from Industrial Way. The officer recognized the driver from a previous encounter as someone who was prohibited from driving. The man's vehicle was impounded for seven days and he was released on a notice to appear in North Vancouver court.
Pedestrian injured
On March 9, police responded to a call about a pedestrian having been struck by a vehicle on Highway 99 near Doodson's Corner. A 2004 Toyota Matrix had struck a pedestrian who had darted in front of the vehicle. The pedestrian, who suffered serious but non-life-threatening injuries and was being treated at Lions Gate Hospital, apparently was quite drunk at the time of the incident. "There did not appear to be anything the driver could have done to avert the collision," Pollock said.
Store window broken
Sometime overnight last Wednesday-Thursday (March 9 and 10), the front window of the Trinity Romance Shop was broken. The incident occurred between Wednesday at 6 p.m. and Thursday at 8:30 a.m. Police are investigating.
Drunken men, woman arrested
Last Friday (March 11), police responded to a report of a male lying halfway on the road and halfway in the ditch along Skyline Drive. The complainant said the man was "out cold" and had not responded when a vehicle honked its horn at close range. Police found the man, "heavily intoxicated," arrested him for being drunk in a public place and lodged him in cells for the night, Pollock said.
The same night, police received a report of a drunken man who refused to leave a 7-Eleven store for about two hours. When police arrived, the man was unable to answer basic questions. He, too, was arrested for being drunk in a public place and lodged in cells.
On Saturday (March 12), police responding to a report of a drunken female near Cliffside Pub in Valleycliffe arrived to find her slumped on a bench. She was unable to identify her self and was arrested for public drunkenness.
On Sunday (March 13), police on patrol noticed an drunken male chasing another male through the parking lot near the Cliffside Pub. Police spoke to the man and while he was belligerent at first, he quieted down, Pollock said. The officer then conducted a bar check and upon exiting the pub, the same male was yelling at a female outside the premises. The male was arrested and ticketed for being drunk in public.
Pedestrians struck
On March 11, a man contacted police to report that his daughter and another person had been struck by a vehicle while walking in the Mamquam Elementary School parking lot. The vehicle was backing up at the time, and police issued the driver a ticket for backing while unsafe, Pollock said. The two were treated for minor injuries at Squamish General Hospital.
Alleged threat probed
Also on Friday, Squamish RCMP responded to a report that someone had threatened to kill another person. Police visited the home and, after taking down statements from those involved, arrested the apparent offender for uttering threats. Police continue their investigation and the accused was released on an undertaking to appear in court.
Youths ticketed
Police on Friday (March 11) received a report of three drunken youths banging on a door of Howe Sound Secondary School. When officers arrived, the youths fled on foot, but all three were eventually apprehended. The least intoxicated youth was released to his mother, while the other two were lodged in cells at the detachment until sober and were ticketed for being drunk in a public place.
Man taken to hospital
On Saturday (March 12), police received a call with details about a male who said his cat was talking to him and that he wanted his father to go to a specific church for a specific reason. When officers arrived, the male greeted them by saying his father shared the same identify of a girl he used to date.
"Based on all the details gathered, and admissions of the male, it was learned that he had taken the drug Ecstasy and was experiencing some physiological issues," Pollock said. He was taken to Squamish General Hospital for evaluation and treatment.
Station damaged
On Saturday (March 12), the owners of the PetroCan gas station in Brackendale reported that two males had been seen on video surveillance around 1:30 a.m. damaging the property. A garage window was broken, garbage cans were dumped, light bulbs were removed and smashed, a gutter was pulled off the roof and a wire was pulled off of the building, damage that totalled about $1,000, Pollock said. Police are investigating; those with information are asked to call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS).
Driver prohibited
On Sunday (March 13), police stopped a vehicle for speeding along Government Road just south of Leskie's Crossing. Police spoke to the driver and detected signs of impairment by alcohol. The driver blew a fail on a roadside screening device and was issued a 90-day driving prohibition and had his vehicle impounded for 30 days.
Rain contributes to crashes
Police responded to a single-vehicle crash on Highway 99 at Shannon Falls on Sunday (March 13). A vehicle lost control in after driving through a puddle in rainy conditions and came to rest on its roof next to a rock wall. The driver, who suffered minor injuries, was ticketed for speed relative to conditions.
On the same day, another vehicle lost control on the rain-slicked road just south of Britannia Beach. The vehicle struck the centre median and flipped onto its side. No one was injured. The driver was ticketed for driving contrary to restrictions and failing to keep right.
Two cited for speeding
During the past week, area police stopped two vehicles after having received complaints that they were being driven erratically and that the driver appeared to be impaired. On Tuesday, March 8, after a report of such a vehicle traveling southward near Furry Creek, West Vancouver Police spotted the vehicle traveling faster than the speed limit. The driver was determined not to be impaired but the driver was ticketed for speeding.
On Thursday, March 10, a white GMC SUV was being driven erratically, tailgating and speeding as it traveled northbound on Highway 99 north of Britannia Beach. Squamish RCMP followed it to Garibaldi Way, where it was stopped. The driver showed no signs of impairment and was ticketed for speeding, Pollock said.
Violators nabbed
On Wednesday, March 9, police conducted targeted enforcement in the construction zone just north of Porteau Cove. In a three-hour period, police dealt with 27 infractions including 11 for use of non-hands-free electronic devices while driving and nine for seatbelt infractions. Police plan to conduct similar enforcement sweeps in the coming days, Pollock said.
Hit-and-run driver nabbed
On Sunday, a minor collision occurred in the Tim Hortons drive-through. Afterward the driver of one vehicle did not stop to exchange particulars with the other driver. Police investigation, however, led them to the offending vehicle and the driver was charged with hit-and-run under the Motor Vehicle Act.
Wire spool stolen
On Monday (March 14), CN Police reported the theft of a large spool of black-sheathed copper wire from the back of a CN Rail vehicle parked near Victoria Street and Cleveland Avenue. The wooden spool and wire weighed approximately 300 to 400 pounds. Police are investigating.
