Parksville Qualicum Beach residents continue to be victimized by online and phone scams.
On Oct. 24, a resident reported losing $5,000 responding to a phone caller who obtained debit card information, then transferred money to an international account. Another resident reported losing $2,000, sending an e-transfer to a third party purporting to have a vehicle to sell. Yet another resident reported being defrauded out of $455 using a search engine and choosing the first phone number listed to hook up power for a residence.
During the week of Oct. 21 to Oct. 27, Oceanside RCMP received 239 complaints. Some of the other incidents included:
On Oct. 21, a jerry can with gas and a shovel were reported stolen from a property in the 1700 block of Ballenas Road in Parksville. The same day, a purse, wallet and camera bag were reported stolen from a vehicle at Englishman River Provincial Park.
A fence was reported damaged and a garden cart missing in the 600 block of Island Highway East in Parksville on Oct. 23. The same day in Errington, a wallet was reported stolen from an unlocked vehicle in the 1300 block of Errington Road. In Nanoose Bay, a vehicle was reported damaged and fishing supplies stolen at the rest stop on the Island Highway.
On Oct. 24, a vehicle window was reported broken with keys, sunglasses and insurance papers missing in the area of Plummer Road and Shorewood Drive in Parksville. One day later, an unlicensed white 2005 GMC Sierra truck was reported stolen in the 300 block of Island Highway East in Parksville. Also Oct 25, a vehicle window was reported broken with a wallet missing from the parking lot at Little Qualicum Falls in Qualicum Beach. Another wallet was reported stolen from a vehicle in the 3800 block of Island Highway West.
A vehicle window was reported broken with a Search and Rescue backpack, an Acer laptop, paddle board and dash cam missing in the area of Baylis Road and Island Highway West in Qualicum Beach, on Oct. 27.
If you see a crime in progress phone 911. The Oceanside RCMP non-emergency number is 250-248-6111 and the detachmet is located at 421 Pym Street North in Parksville, with public business hours of 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday to Friday, except holidays.
