Submitted by Sgt. G.D. Simpson
March 12
The Blackpool Fire Chief attended the Clearwater Detachment after a conversation with a suspicious person at the Blackpool Fire Hall. At 1:20 p.m. a black 2011 Chevy pickup with a white, male driver (5 feet 10 inches tall, 220 pounds, salt and pepper hair, hazel eyes) approached the hall and members, offering to buy catalytic converters, advising he’d pay good money for them.
When asked, he provided his contact information, which was likely false, and said he was from the Lower Mainland. He went on to ask about the fire hall’s security system, provided prices for catalytic converters by car make and model as per an app on his phone, and said he is selling them in Edmonton, Alta.
Photos of his truck, it’s plate and the driver were obtained and provided to police. Cst. Klassen made patrols for the vehicle and informed local tow companies and the school bus yard to call police if this male attended to their locations. Phone calls to the man’s number went unanswered.
The owner of the suspicious vehicle is a 48-year-old female from Surrey. With the recent increase in catalytic converter thefts in the lower mainland, police are reminding the motoring public and associated businesses to be extra vigilant in securing and monitoring their vehicles and businesses.
A 71-year-old female came to the detachment to report that she had needed help with her computer printer. The help desk technician from Geeks Tech Pro accessed her computer remotely and was in there for about seven hours. She was told her anti-virus needed an update to which she agreed and was charged $150 US, when it actually cost $37.
The female found out later and called PayPal who cancelled the charge. Her money was refunded. During the installation of the anti-virus software, the female was told to provide photo ID for verification, which she did. The female then came to the detachment to inquire about the possibility of fraud.
She told police she had been to the bank who advised her to call the anti-fraud line. Cst. Van Woudenberg researched “Geeks Tech Pro” and they seem to be a legitimate company. He call the woman back, confirmed she had got her money back and advised her to contact the anti-fraud line as well.
Please do not provide any personal information to businesses, companies or callers that you are unfamiliar with. Frauds and scams are rampant worldwide.
Clearwater RCMP responded to 26 calls for service this past week.
Sgt. G.D. Simpson is the detachment commander at the Clearwater RCMP detachment.
Anyone with information on a crime is encouraged to call Clearwater RCMP at 250-674-2237 or to report anonymously, Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.