Coordinator's Update Feb 2
Good Day, Block Watch Captains, Co-Captains & Participants,
Officers have responded to 297 calls for police assistance in West Vancouver since our last Alerts. WV Block Watch Crime Alerts are now updated throughout the week on our Website.
Click Here To Read Crime Alerts At WestVancouverBlockWatch.com
Distraction Theft
A familiar theft tactic has returned to the Lower Mainland, including an occurrence in the Caulfeild area. A resident returning to their vehicle in the 5300 Block of Headland Dr. January 26th was approached by a man claiming a tire on the vehicle’s passenger side was flat. The victim walked around to check. The tire wasn’t flat. Returning to the driver’s side, the male was gone, and the victim discovered their wallet had been stolen from a bag in the rear seat.
Similar tactics were used recently in two other Lower Mainland municipalities. To reduce your risk, be wary of unexpected approaches by strangers. Lock your doors before leaving valuables unattended when checking your vehicle. If you feel someone is acting suspiciously, call Police. If you have been the victim of a distraction theft, call 911.
Residential Break-Ins
As of this post, there was one additional residential break-in reported since our last update. Suspects forced entry through a basement patio door at a home in the 2700 block of Willoughby Rd. All rooms were ransacked.
Review of 19 residential break-ins across the District during January indicates attention to home security basics can help catch offenders and reduce your risk of property loss or damage.
The first break & enter of 2023, barely 40 minutes past the New Year, involved a residence & garage with an active, monitored alarm. Police were called immediately. Updated information relayed by a resident from a safe location led to a suspect in custody minutes later. Property from other reported offences was also recovered.
Of remaining offences, five involved suspects finding unlocked or unsecured entry points. In 11 offences, there was either no alarm or security systems that were not monitored. Suspects in four break-ins entered through upper floor doors or windows not equipped with intrusion sensors.
Please ensure all doors & windows are properly secured when left unattended, even if only for a short period. Ensure alarm or video security systems are well maintained, properly set, and monitored when you are away. An intrusion alert promptly relayed to police helps increase prospects of apprehending offenders & preventing property loss.
Ladders or other equipment on your property that might help someone access upper floors should be stored indoors or well secured outside to prevent use by suspects.
Please be alert to any suspicious activity in your neighbourhood. Call 9-1-1 in an emergency. Call 604-925-7300 for a non-emergency response.
Join the WVPD team! West Vancouver Police are recruiting for both New Recruit and Experienced (Exempt) Police Officers. We are specifically looking to fill anticipated spots for the Police Academy class beginning in May 2023. If you or any family or friend are considering a career in policing, please visit our website at westvanpolice/join-wvpd/police-officer for more information.
Jeff Palmer
Block Watch & Operational Support Coordinator
West Vancouver Police Department
t: 604-925-7363 | c: 604-785-2446