Over the past several weeks, a clean-cut young man has been walking the streets attempting to solicit as much as $20 from locals with the same sob story.
Several locals have reported the man, who appears to be in his mid-20s to early 30s, approaches friendly residents with a disclaimer that he's not a "bum." (He does not fit the description of a typical panhandler, by all accounts.)
He goes on to say that he's stranded in Squamish and is seeking a bus ticket - at times he's says he's going to Whistler, at other times to Pemberton. He asks for $18 to $20 each time and promises to pay the money back.
One local provided the panhandler with $20 along with his name and contact information for pay back. The following week, the man approached him again with the same story, and then denied he'd received money from him the previous week.
The panhandler is described as Caucasian with short dark hair, clean-shaven, of medium build and has been seen at various times wearing a dark-coloured jacket and a camouflage jacket.
RCMP Cpl. Dave Ritchie said police have received a few calls regarding aggressive pandhandlers, which may or may not involve the man in question. He said panhandling is not illegal - even if a lie is involved - unless it becomes aggressive. However police will respond to business owners who request assistance in removing a panhandler from their property.
Rtichie warned locals not to be fooled.
"He's going to hit the bleeding hearts that will give him money."
The panhandler has targeted a variety of residents from girls in their early teens to elderly women.
"Save it for people who are victims of fires or something like that instead of giving it to a person on the street," said Ritchie.
He also encouraged people wishing to help people in need on the street to provide them with clothing or food - "something they can't sell for drugs or alcohol."
