Police are seeking the public's help in identifying two males alleged to have been soliciting donations on behalf of the Red Cross.
During the past week, Squamish RCMP have received "a number of complaints" regarding two men going door to door, claiming to be from the Red Cross and soliciting donations, RCMP Sgt. Wayne Pride wrote in a statement.
When contacted, Red Cross officials told police they have no sanctioned activity in Squamish. Police are asking citizens to contact them immediately if they are approached by anyone claiming to represent the Red Cross in the area, Pride said.
Police, though, aren't sure whether the men were doing anything improper.
"We have had a number of calls regarding this and have found in some cases there have been legitimate Red Cross reps in our community in the not-so-distant past. They should have the proper ID and materials with them to prove their affiliation," Pride said.
"We are liaising with the Red Cross to advise them of what is happening locally and to request they provide us with their specific protocols when they operate within a community," he added.
"We will continue to respond to calls regarding suspicious solicitors in an attempt to identify anyone using a legitimate cause for illegitimate reasons."
While police don't yet have sufficient information to provide a full description, one is believed to be a Caucasian in his mid-20s, six feet tall with a slim build and brown hair. One description indicated the man was wearing a black jacket and jeans. Another description indicated one of suspect was approximately 5-foot-8, with bad teeth and an Australian accent.
If you have information, please contact Squamish RCMP at (604) 892-6100 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.
Display home entered
Last Tuesday (Jan. 21), police received a report of a break-and-enter at a display home in the 1500 block of Scott Crescent. At the scene, officers found a window broken and evidence that someone had been squatting inside. Police have increased patrols in areas where such activity has occurred in the past, with squatters sometimes having caused damage to homes and/or stealing items that were inside.
Man arrested
On Tuesday (Jan. 21) at around 7:30 p.m., police responded to a report of an assault at a home in the 38000 block of Hemlock Avenue. A 28-year-old woman had been assaulted by her 33-year-old husband during an argument. The suspect had left the scene, but was arrested the next morning, Pride said.
On Thursday (Jan. 23), police received a report of a break, enter and theft from a storage locker at a facility in the 37000 block of Second Avenue. The hinges on the locker had been removed and items were strewn about. Stolen were a guitar amplifier, a PA system, a JBL monitor and a 35-millimetre Canon EOS camera.
Two arrested
On Thursday (Jan. 23), a police officer pulled a vehicle being driven by a 41-year-old resident on Highway 99 near Shannon Falls. The driver was well known to police, as the officer who had pulled him over had issued him a driving prohibition the previous day for driving while impaired by drugs. The passenger, a 43-year-old Squamish man, was found in possession of "a quantity" of marijuana. Both were arrested.
Business entered
On Friday (Jan. 24), police received a report of a break and enter having occurred at a business in the 1800 block of Garibaldi Way. Between 6 p.m. on Thursday (Jan. 23) and Friday at 7 a.m., a side door had been pried open and a tool box targeted, but apparently nothing was stolen.
