A pair of suspicious fires and another reported online scam were among the more than 200 complaints received by Oceanside RCMP the week of March 10 to March 16.
On March 10, a suspicious blaze was reported with damage to a business in the 200 block of Island Highway East in Parksville. The same day, another suspicious fire was reported, with a stolen vehicle destroyed in the 900 block of Fairdowne Road in Parksville. On March 13, a resident reported being scammed out of $2,100 after responding to a caller supposedly from an online retailer asking for payment in cryptocurrency.
Some of the other incidents included:
On March 10, a wallet was reported stolen from a vehicle overnight in the 2400 block of Ainsley Place in Nanoose Bay. The same day, an unlocked vehicle was reported stolen in the 1100 block of Popham Road in Parksville; and fishing rods and downriggers were reported stolen from a storage container in the 3500 block of Dolphin Drive in Nanoose Bay. A radar unit and cash were also reported stolen from an unlocked vehicle overnight in the 3400 block of Simmons Place in Nanoose Bay.
Exterior copper plumbing from heat exchangers was reported stolen from a community hall in the first block of Shearme Road in Coombs on March 11. The next day, a nighttime car prowler was reported in the 1700 block of Northwest Bay Road in Nanoose Bay; and a male was reported to have cut the lock off a compound and stole items from a donation bin in the 100 block of Hirst Avenue in Parksville. A backpack was also reported stolen from an unlocked vehicle in the 1700 block of Northwest Bay Road in Nanoose Bay.
On March 13, a vehicle fuel tank was reported drilled and fuel siphoned in the 400 block of First Avenue in Qualicum Beach, on March 13. The same day, an unlocked vehicle was reported rummaged through in the 1400 block of Britannia Drive in Parksville. The next day, another unlocked vehicle was reported rummaged through in the 400 block of Church Road in Parksville.
Also March 14, a vehicle was reported stolen in the 2100 block of Scottvale Place of Nanoose Bay. It was recovered by Oceanside RCMP.
An after-hours business break-and-enter was reported with a point of sale machine stolen in the 200 block of Island Highway East in Parksville on March 14. The next day, an attempted residential break-and-enter was reported with a broken window and damage to door casing in the 300 block of Village Way in Qualicum Beach.
On March 16, an attempted break-and-enter to a locked storage container causing damage was reported with four exterior game cameras the only items missing in the 2600 block of Northwest Bay Road in Nanoose Bay.
If you see a crime in progress phone 911. The Oceanside RCMP non-emergency number is 250-248-6111 and the detachment is located at 421 Pym Street North, Parksville, with public business hours of 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday to Friday, except holidays.
