Oceanside Community Safety

It's night and I'm driving into the gray cotton of fog caused by a lingering temperature inversion. Vision is limited, the roads are wet, it's just a few degrees above freezing and some of the traffic to my left is driving like it's a sunny afternoon in August. As they whoosh by me nose to tail at speeds exceeding the posted limit I marvel at what I imagine is their ability to see so much better than I can. I also admire their ability to anticipate and use quick reflexes to get themselves out of trouble if something unexpected happens ahead.

Oceanside Community Safety's Community Watch performed seven deployments in November, 2017 dedicated to the Cell Watch program. Of 3956 drivers observed, 14 were talking on the phone and 44 were performing other distracting actions.

Three combination Speed Watch and Cell Watch deployments were made by Oceanside Community Safety's Community Watch during the month of November, 2017. Of 990 vehicle checked,  101 or 9.8% were traveling at more than 10 km/h over the posted speed limit with the highest deviation being 68 km/h in a 30 km/h zone. 4 drivers were observed doing some form of distracted driving.

One car broken into every hour – ICBC urges shoppers to keep their vehicles free of valuables.

With malls filled with holiday shoppers, parking lots and unattended vehicles become alluring targets for thieves. About 10,000 vehicle break-ins were reported across the province last year. ICBC is reminding drivers that they can help prevent auto crime from happening to them over the holidays by keeping their vehicle free of valuables – including those holiday parcels.

1) File 17-10977 December 1, a theft was reported from the 3200 block of Melon Road in Qualicum Beach. A suspect had entered an unlocked travel trailer on the property and stolen a chain saw. The chainsaw is described as an orange, Husqvarna model number 365.

Oceanside Community Safety Volunteers would like to acknowledge the great work being done by the Arrowsmith Community Justice Society as part of National Restorative Justice Week which runs from November 19 to 26, 2017.

1) 2017-10358 On November 11, Oceanside RCMP received a report that 14 heavy duty batteries had been stolen from the train signal box near the Alberni Highway and Despard Ave in Parksville. The batteries are valued at approximately $7000 and have no specific identifying markings. The complainant stated a number of battery boxes all over Vancouver Island broken into in the past year.

Twenty two combination Speed Watch and Cell Watch deployments were made by Oceanside Community Safety's Community Watch during the month of September, 2017. Of 10,494 vehicle checked,  570 or 5.4% were traveling at more than 10 km/h over the posted speed limit with the highest deviation being 102 km/h in a 70 km/h zone. 40 drivers were observed doing some form of distracted driving.

Oceanside Community Safety's Community Watch performed two deployments in September, 2017 dedicated to the Cell Watch program. Of 2124 drivers observed, 6 were talking on the phone and 26 were performing other distracting actions.

1) File 17-10140 November 4, Registered Owner reported a theft from his vehicle parked at his home at 200 block Parklink Place, Parksville. The owner of vehicle forgot to lock his vehicle doors. Stolen from the vehicle was a cheap pair of sunglasses and approximately $25 in change. The incident occurred between 3 and 7 am.