On March 17, at 10:45 am, police responded to a motor vehicle crash at the intersection of Foul Bay Road and Allenby Street when an eastbound vehicle failed to yield to a southbound vehicle. A 90-year-old driver suffered a minor injury and was taken to hospital as a precaution. Neither the 81 year old driver of the other vehicle nor his passenger required medical attention. Both drivers are residents of Oak Bay.
On the evening of March 17, police were called to a residence in the 1100 Beach Drive to investigate the theft of jewellery from the 84-year-old resident. Finding no signs of forced entry, officers searched the woman’s home with her and located the jewellery in her bedroom where she had hidden it prior to going on vacation.
On March 19 at 6:13 pm, police were requested to assist the Oak Bay Fire Department in the 900 block of Oliver Street when smoke was noted in the basement of a residence. OBFD ascertained that a smouldering cigarette butt had been left in the front garden causing smoke to enter the home. No serious damage occurred.
On March 20, OBPD investigated an attempted fraud whereby a senior was contacted by someone claiming to be from Microsoft and offering to clear her computer of viruses. She granted the caller access to her computer remotely and then spent over an hour watching as the caller “worked” on her computer even accessing bank records. Luckily, the fraud department of her bank noticed the unusual activity on her account and did not approve any money transfers. This is a very common scam. Microsoft will never call to repair or scan your computer over the phone.
Then, on March 21, police were contacted by another senior who had fallen victim to the “grandson scam” whereby she wired two large sums of money to her “grandson” who apparently had fallen on some bad luck while in Guyana. Investigation allowed for the cancellation of the last of two transactions before it had completed. Police ask residents to please be very aware that these scams occur way too often and generally result in no police action being possible as no viable suspects exist and the money is usually wired to international destinations, far beyond the scope of local investigators.
March 22 found the Oak Bay Police Department busy with impaired drivers. At 12:58 am, a 23-year-old male from Alberta was stopped on Cadboro Bay Road and was believed to have consumed alcohol prior to driving. In fact, at one point he admitted to having consumed seven beers. An Approved Screening Device test was administered and the driver failed. Having had no previous driving convictions of a similar nature, he received an Immediate Roadside Prohibition from driving for 90 days and his pick-up truck was impounded for 30 days.
Shortly afterwards, at 2:23 am, a second pick-up truck was observed speeding on Cadboro Bay Road near the intersection of Fort and Foul Bay. The 31-year-old male driver from Salt Spring Island had been drinking and was rather uncooperative with police. When he failed the Approved Screening Device test, in a moment of drunken reasoning and further poor decision making, he attempted to bolt from police, abandoning his truck and running off down a side street. He was chased on foot, caught and brought back to the police car. The male was issued an Immediate Roadside Prohibition from driving for 90 days, impounded his truck for 30 days and lodged him in police cells, arrested under the Liquor Control and Licensing Act as a person intoxicated in public. He was released several hours later when sober and able to make informed decisions.
Later the same day, at 2:00 pm, Oak Bay Police received a report of a drunken male in a local pub refusing to leave and drinking another patron’s beverage. The male had left prior to police arrival but a second caller, concerned that the male was impaired and driving, contacted police to report him after she had a brief conversation with him about directions to the swimming pool. This second caller attended the Oak Bay Recreation Center Parking lot and confirmed that the male was there as police members also arrived on scene. The 38-year old Saanich man was advised that he was being investigated as an impaired driver and the Approved Screening Device demand was read. After many opportunities, the man continued to refuse to provide a sample of his breath and the potential consequences of the refusal were explained to him. When asked if he understood the jeopardy he was in, the driver responded, “I understand sir, but I love to drink”. He has been prohibited from driving for 90 days, his sister’s van has been impounded and he spent the next few hours in police cells to become sober enough to look after himself.
Just after 4:00 pm on the 22nd, a resident of the 1900 block of Cadboro Bay Road called to report the theft of his 2006 Lincoln pick-up truck. The truck is black in colour, has BC licence plate EF9659 on it and was last seen at 5:00 pm on March 21.
And finally, at 4:15 pm on March 22nd, a 24-year-old female Oak Bay resident was roller-blading when struck by a truck in the crosswalk at Beach Drive and Dalhousie Street. The driver of the truck, a 71-year-old Saanich resident, had slowed down and was looking into the parking lot of Willows Beach and contemplating turning when the roller-blader entered the crosswalk in front of him. She was transported to hospital by ambulance but suffered only minor injuries. Both the injured skater and her companion were wearing full protective gear including helmets. Motor Vehicle Act charges are being contemplated.
