The Oak Bay Police Department responded to 96 calls for service this past week.
2023-2163 Mischief to Property Under $5000.00
On July 24th at approximately 3:30 p.m., the Oak Bay Police Department responded to a report of slashed tires on a vehicle parked on private property on Brighton Ave. The vehicle owner reported that sometime overnight, someone punctured all four tires on their vehicle. It was initially believed someone had intentionally let the air out of all four tires, however after an attempt to re-inflate the tires it was discovered they had been punctured with a sharp object. A suspect has not yet been identified. Estimated value of damage was reported at $1000.00.
2023-2165 Fraud
On July 24th at 4:15 p.m., a resident attended the Oak Bay Police Department to report they had fallen victim to a credit card fraud scam. The resident reported sometime last week they received a phone call from “Visa” indicating there had been unauthorized charges on their credit card . The female “representative” asked the victim to confirm the last four numbers of their credit card. They were then transferred to the fraud department where the victim was asked to assist the “fraud department” with an “internal fraud investigation”. After a very practiced and believable story was delivered to the victim, they agreed to assist with the “investigation”. The victim was coached over the phone and directed to withdraw $5000.00 from their bank and deposit it into a Bitcoin machine. The victim was further coached and persuaded to attend a second bank location to withdraw $7000.00 and deposit the cash into a second Bitcoin machine. The following day, the victim was contacted again and coached to withdraw an additional $5000.00 to deposit into yet another Bitcoin machine. The victim deposited $2700.00 of the $5000.00 ($100.00 bill at a time) withdrawn and encountered some issues depositing the remainder of the money. The victim was coerced to attend their bank and withdraw an additional $5000.00. While at their bank, a teller noticed their recent banking activity and alerted the victim they were likely being scammed. Total loss to the victim in this file is $14,700.00. This matter is still under investigation.
Please be aware financial institutions and companies like BC Hydro, Visa, Mastercard and CRA will not request a customer to make payments in Bitcoin, iTunes cards or any type of gift card. Any agency claiming to be investigating internal fraud will not ask the pubic to assist. If you get a call like this hang up on the caller and contact your financial institution or service provider independently. Do not call a phone number provided to you by the suspected scammer or a phone number that may pop up on your computer.
2023-2187 Theft of Bicycle
On July 25th at 7:12 p.m., the Oak Bay Police Department responded to a report of a theft of a yellow 2019 Raleigh Strata 21 speed road bike with cruising tires in the 1000 block of Island Rd. The resident reported they had left their bicycle unlocked beside their house. The total value of loss was not provided.
2023-2208 Theft from Auto.
On July 27th at 6:00pm, the Oak Bay Police Department responded to a report of a theft from an automobile in the 2100 block of Lorne Terrace Ave. The resident reported their vehicle had been entered sometime after 3:00 p.m. the previous day and someone had stolen approximately $200.00 in cash. The vehicle was parked in the driveway. The vehicle was left unlocked. No suspects have been identified.
2023-2211 Mischief
On July 28th at 7:50 a.m., the Oak Bay Police Department responded to a report of man who had just broken a window of a BC Transit Bus in the 2100 block of Cadboro Bay Road. A male passenger had been directed off the BC Transit bus by the bus driver due to his behaviour. The man got off the bus and while the bus was still stopped, he struck the bus repeatedly with a metal object damaging a window and then fled. Police attended the scene and located the suspect in the area a short time later. A 32-year-old-man was arrested for mischief to property under $5000.00. The man was later released and is scheduled to appear in court in early September. One of the man’s conditions of release is to not be on any BC Transit vehicle or attend any BC Transit bus stop. Damage to the BC Transit bus is estimated at $900.00. No one was physically injured during this incident.
2023-2225 Theft from Auto.
On July 28th at 11:30 p.m., the Oak Bay Police Department received a report of a theft from a vehicle that occurred sometime overnight on July 17th, in the 1100 block of Hampshire Rd. The resident reported someone had entered their unlocked vehicle and had stolen a shopping bag containing expensive clothing. A women’s Gucci gold coloured dress, a white Khaita dress, a blue Marciano business suit and several other clothing pieces were stolen. The value of clothing is estimated at $4500.00. A suspect has not been identified.
2023-2248 Fraud
On July 30th at 4:30 p.m., the Oak Bay Police Department received a report of a fraud that occurred near Oak Bay Ave. The complainant reported he was walking near Oak Bay Ave. when he was approached by a man in a white SUV who offered to sell him gold jewellery. The man purchased 4 pieces of “gold” jewellery for $400.00. Shortly after the purchase the man learned the jewellery pieces were not gold and he returned to the area where he had purchased the items. By that time the man and his vehicle were long gone. The vehicle details are limited to a white SUV. The man is described as having a darker complexion, aged 30-40 years old, slender build and approximately 6 feet tall. There were children in the vehicle with driver at the time of the sale. This investigation is ongoing.
If you have information regarding these or any other crimes in Oak Bay, please phone the police department at 250-592-2424 or Crimestoppers at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS)
