Kitimat RCMP weekly report November 14th-November 20th, 2024

Gift card fraud

A report from a victim of a scam was made to the Kitimat RCMP om November 15th. It was stated that while using a laptop computer, a hacking warning appeared on the screen with a number to call for help. The number was called and the victim was advised that they would need to send a certain value in gift cards to stop the hacking. Unfortunately, a sum was sent and it was not until a further amount was requested that the victim realized it was a scam. A report was made to the Canadian Anti-fraud centre as well. The Kitimat RCMP would like to advise that no reputable business will take a gift card for payment of services. If you are told you need to send gift card information, that is a huge red flag and you should stop the communication immediately. (2024-4146)

Excessive speed

While conducting speed enforcement along Highway 37 at approximately 4:45 AM on November 16th, a Kitimat RCMP officer noted a vehicle travelling at a high rate of speed. The officer’s Radar unit was activated and it was found the vehicle was travelling 148 Km/h in the posted 100 Km/h speed zone. A traffic stop was conducted. The driver received an excessive speed violation ticket with a $368.00 fine. The vehicle was impounded for 7 days as well. (2024-4153)

No insurance, no drivers license

A traffic stop resulted in a second vehicle being impounded on November 16th. This vehicle was being operated in a manner that caught the attention of a patrolling Kitimat RCMP Officer along Kuldo Blvd at approximately 12:15pm. During the traffic stop it was found the vehicle’s insurance had expired several months earlier and the driver was found to be suspended from driving in another province and did not hold a valid BC drivers license. The driver received a violation ticket for no insurance, no drivers license and was also issued a Notice of Driving Prohibition and a Vehicle Impound notice as the vehicle was impounded for 7 days. (2024-4155)

Wrong license plate leads to more charges

A Kitimat RCMP Officer noticed a vehicle being driven on Gyrfalcon Ave that had the wrong license plate attached to the vehicle just after midnight on November 17th. A traffic stop was conducted where it was further found that the driver did not only have the incorrect plates on the vehicle, but they did not have a driver license and had a notice to be served a driving prohibition. A laundry list of motor vehicle act charges was issued to the driver including no insurance, wrong number plate and no drivers license with fines totaling just under $990.00. After being served the notice of driving prohibition, the vehicle was impounded for 7 days. (2024-4162)

Located weapon

While working in an uninhabited Whitesail residence on November 18th, a person located what appeared to be a hand gun on November 18th. The investigation officers attended and located the item which was found to be an altered air soft pistol. The alterations that were done made the pistol look like it could be a real gun. The item was seized and put in for destruction. (2024-4175)

Winter driving reminder

With the recent turning of the clock back, and the change into the fall / winter season, the Kitimat RCMP would like to remind drivers of a few key points.

1. Ensure your lights are on! Vehicles with daytime running lights appear to have their lights on, however there Is no marker or tail lights. As it gets darker earlier and stays darker longer, it makes it hard to see vehicles without tail and marker lights on. Check your vehicle to see if it has auto headlamps or if you need to turn the switch to activate the head and tail lamps. This is also a good time to make sure all your lights are working
2. On snowy days, you need to ensure you have cleared ice / snow off your windows, lights, license plate and flat surfaces of your vehicle like hoods and trunks. Not only is driving with snow and ice on your vehicle dangerous, there is Motor Vehicle Act fines that you could face which is never ideal to have to deal with when a simple few minutes for scraping or brushing could circumvent it.
3. While driving, please slow down and give yourself room and space. Never be in a hurry and remember, the weather and highway conditions can change very quickly. Don’t assume because the highways are bare and dry when you leave Kitimat to head north, you could run into slippery conditions very quickly.

If you have any information of crimes that have occurred in the Kitimat area, and would like to report it to the police, you can report through Northern BC Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477). You will stay anonymous and if your tip leads to an arrest, you may receive a reward of up to $2000.