Community Articles
General News · 15th May 2020
Cpl. Sean Bulford
Property Crime, the 0.01%
Property Crime is on the rise on Cortes and Quadra. Between March 1st and May 1st of 2019, Quadra Island RCMP responded to 136 calls for service, with three thefts and four frauds reported during that time. 2020 is a different story. Between March 1st and May 1st of this year, we have responded to 127 calls for service, twelve of those have been thefts and two have been frauds.
Some of these thefts have involved higher value items, which is another anomaly for the Quadra Island RCMP. We currently are investigating the theft of expensive tools from a construction site on Quadra Island, and a dirt-bike stolen from a private residence.
During the past few weeks on Cortes Island, several thousand dollars worth of custom ordered building supplies were stolen from the various government wharfs across the Island. These materials were purchased by the local harbour authority to upgrade the docks for everyone's use. Some of the items stolen included large custom cut wood beams. This would have required multiple people to move and a large truck. Anyone who may have information about this theft is asked to contact the Quadra Island RCMP or Crimestoppers.
This morning (May 15th) Quadra Island RCMP received a report of theft at the Legion, located on West Road. An unknown suspect took it upon themselves to steal the brass plaque from the cenotaph. This plaque commemorated the men and women who lost their lives in the service of this country. Theft is a crime that effects the entire community. We all feel less secure knowing someone amongst us is sneaking around in the night looking to take what we have spent our hard earned money on. This theft however is in a category of it's own, and is especially low. It is difficult for me to write this press release and remain professional in my wording this morning, knowing that a person this thoughtless and selfish lives, or stepped foot on this Island. I strongly encourage the person to think twice about what they've done, and return the plaque immediately. At the same time, anyone with information about this theft is asked to call us, or Crimestoppers. This was an epic loser move. I can't even fathom how someone would benefit from this. I've heard of unscrupulous scrap yards that will take copper pipe and wire with little questions asked, but I can't imagine any scarp yard, anywhere, that would accept something like this.
With this steep increase in property crime, we ask that the public keep their eyes open for suspicious activity and report it. There are only four members posted to Quadra Island Detachment. We cover four Islands with a few thousand year round residents. We rely on the public to do our job effectively. As Sir Robert Peel, the founder of the modern policing stated:
Police, at all times, should maintain a relationship with the public that gives reality to the historic tradition that the police are the public and the public are the police; the police being only members of the public who are paid to give full-time attention to duties which are incumbent upon every citizen in the interests of community welfare and existence."
The Other 99.9%
This Detachment is a pleasure to work in. We all feel lucky to have the chance to live on Quadra Island and police these communities. Most members posted here have paid their dues and worked some difficult postings to get the opportunity to be stationed here. These Islands are full of good people, who are welcoming and honest, which is why there is such a strong sense of community. I would like to thank the anonymous person/people, who dropped off four ornamental trees on the steps of the Detachment recently. There was no note, which left us to speculate if they were found property or a thoughtful gift. It's now clear, with no ensuing phone call, that these beautiful trees were meant to be a gift. These will be planted around the Detachment. I would like the donor to know that the Japanese Maple will be planted in memory of Cst. Heidi Stevenson, who recently lost her life while bravely attempting to stop a murderous rampage in Nova Scotia. Cst. Stevenson gave her life, her children lost their mother, and her husband lost his partner. We will plant this tree to remember that fact.
Cpl. Sean Bulford
Quadra Island RCMP
If you have any information regarding an incident or crime please contact the Quadra RCMP at 250-285-3631 or Crimestoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS.
Property Crime is on the rise on Cortes and Quadra. Between March 1st and May 1st of 2019, Quadra Island RCMP responded to 136 calls for service, with three thefts and four frauds reported during that time. 2020 is a different story. Between March 1st and May 1st of this year, we have responded to 127 calls for service, twelve of those have been thefts and two have been frauds.
Some of these thefts have involved higher value items, which is another anomaly for the Quadra Island RCMP. We currently are investigating the theft of expensive tools from a construction site on Quadra Island, and a dirt-bike stolen from a private residence.
During the past few weeks on Cortes Island, several thousand dollars worth of custom ordered building supplies were stolen from the various government wharfs across the Island. These materials were purchased by the local harbour authority to upgrade the docks for everyone's use. Some of the items stolen included large custom cut wood beams. This would have required multiple people to move and a large truck. Anyone who may have information about this theft is asked to contact the Quadra Island RCMP or Crimestoppers.
This morning (May 15th) Quadra Island RCMP received a report of theft at the Legion, located on West Road. An unknown suspect took it upon themselves to steal the brass plaque from the cenotaph. This plaque commemorated the men and women who lost their lives in the service of this country. Theft is a crime that effects the entire community. We all feel less secure knowing someone amongst us is sneaking around in the night looking to take what we have spent our hard earned money on. This theft however is in a category of it's own, and is especially low. It is difficult for me to write this press release and remain professional in my wording this morning, knowing that a person this thoughtless and selfish lives, or stepped foot on this Island. I strongly encourage the person to think twice about what they've done, and return the plaque immediately. At the same time, anyone with information about this theft is asked to call us, or Crimestoppers. This was an epic loser move. I can't even fathom how someone would benefit from this. I've heard of unscrupulous scrap yards that will take copper pipe and wire with little questions asked, but I can't imagine any scarp yard, anywhere, that would accept something like this.
With this steep increase in property crime, we ask that the public keep their eyes open for suspicious activity and report it. There are only four members posted to Quadra Island Detachment. We cover four Islands with a few thousand year round residents. We rely on the public to do our job effectively. As Sir Robert Peel, the founder of the modern policing stated:
Police, at all times, should maintain a relationship with the public that gives reality to the historic tradition that the police are the public and the public are the police; the police being only members of the public who are paid to give full-time attention to duties which are incumbent upon every citizen in the interests of community welfare and existence."
The Other 99.9%
This Detachment is a pleasure to work in. We all feel lucky to have the chance to live on Quadra Island and police these communities. Most members posted here have paid their dues and worked some difficult postings to get the opportunity to be stationed here. These Islands are full of good people, who are welcoming and honest, which is why there is such a strong sense of community. I would like to thank the anonymous person/people, who dropped off four ornamental trees on the steps of the Detachment recently. There was no note, which left us to speculate if they were found property or a thoughtful gift. It's now clear, with no ensuing phone call, that these beautiful trees were meant to be a gift. These will be planted around the Detachment. I would like the donor to know that the Japanese Maple will be planted in memory of Cst. Heidi Stevenson, who recently lost her life while bravely attempting to stop a murderous rampage in Nova Scotia. Cst. Stevenson gave her life, her children lost their mother, and her husband lost his partner. We will plant this tree to remember that fact.
Cpl. Sean Bulford
Quadra Island RCMP
If you have any information regarding an incident or crime please contact the Quadra RCMP at 250-285-3631 or Crimestoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS.
