A series of scam texts and threatening calls left an Oak Bay resident out $200,000 this week. Oak Bay police were called Dec. 15, but not before the victim wired several money transfers through her bank to the Bank of Asia East Hong Kong.
The resident received a phone call from someone stating they were from a courier company that had received a delivery with illegal merchandise, and if the victim did not send $20,000 they would be charged and arrested.
The victim complied and continued to send multiple transfers until her parents and the landlord intervened knowing it was a fraud. The landlord advised the victim to block the phone number and cease all communication with the caller.
The victim had deleted all the text threads, as requested by the fraudster.
Don’t click the link
A resident nearly lost $12,000 in a ‘mobile refund’ scam, reported Dec. 16 to Oak Bay police.
The resident was expecting a $35 cheque from Telus in the mail; however, he received a text message that appeared to be from the company, informing him to click on a link that routed him to an Interac e-transfer requiring him to enter his banking information. The resident was defrauded of $12,000. The resident realized it was a scam and immediately contacted his bank who froze his account.
Stop sign heat
Oak Bay police members were busy doing traffic enforcement Dec. 19. Officers wrote 15 violations for disobeying a stop sign at King George Terrace and Beach Drive and another eight tickets for other driving offences in the area.
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Our OBPD members were busy doing traffic enforcement yesterday. 15 violations for disobeying stop sign at King George Terrace and Beach Drive and another 8 tickets for other driving offences in the area. Doing our part to keep our streets safe this holiday season. pic.twitter.com/GgWJZdGH5v
— Oak Bay Police (@OakBayPolice) December 20, 2021
Double the excessive
Oak Bay officers handed out two tickets for excessive speed on two consecutive days.
On Dec. 13, an officer on patrol in the 2900-block of Foul Bay Road clocked a vehicle travelling northbound at 113 km/h in a posted 50 km/h zone. The driver was issued a ticket for excessive speed beyond 60 km/h over the limit, which has a fine of $483. The vehicle was impounded for seven days.
The next day, an officer using radar in the 2300-block of Cedar Hill Cross Road clocked a vehicle at 97 km/h in a posted 50 km/h zone. The driver was ticketed for excessive speed (40 to 60 km/h over the posted speed limit) with a fine of $368. The vehicle was impounded for seven days.
Bike swiped from deck
On Dec. 16, Oak Bay police received a report of an attempted break and enter on Murdock Crescent. The homeowner noticed the sliding door screen to his upper deck had been removed. The sliding door was locked, and the suspect was unable to enter the residence. A 21-speed, black and red Nakamura mountain bike was stolen from the deck.
Stolen car dumped on Mitchell
A stolen car was discovered dumped in Oak Bay on Dec. 16.
The car, ditched in the 1300-block of Mitchell Street, was reported stolen from Saanich. A forensics team processed the vehicle and the registered owner was notified that his vehicle had been recovered.
Breast pump machine, chocolates pilfered from unlocked cars
Dec. 14, police received a theft from a motor vehicle complaint in the 3000-block of Foul Bay Road. The unlocked vehicle was parked in the driveway and the insurance papers were reported stolen.
Dec. 17, police received a trio of theft from motor vehicle complaint in the 2400-block of Lansdowne Road. The vehicle was unlocked, and the suspect stole four boxes of Purdy chocolates, spare change, and gift certificates to a nearby restaurant.
The same day there was a similar complaint in the 3400-block of Cadboro Bay Road. The vehicle was unlocked, and the suspect stole a rented breast pump with an approximate value of $2,000.
The third theft from motor vehicle complaint was in the 3500-block of Cadboro Bay Road where the unlocked vehicle was parked in the driveway and two pairs of Rayban sunglasses were reported stolen.
The fourth similar report that day came from the 3500-block of Cadboro Bay Road. Someone rummaged through an unlocked vehicle. Nothing was stolen, but the owner’s automatic gate was damaged by the suspect entering private property.
Driver admits to drinking, blows a ‘warn’
A driver admitted to consuming alcohol during a Dec. 17 roadblock in the 3100-block of Foul Bay Road. The officer detected an odour of liquor while standing outside the vehicle wearing a face covering. A screening device showed a ‘warn’ and the driver was issued a three-day driving prohibition. The vehicle was picked up by a friend.
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