Whistler police are investigating after an art heist was caught on camera at a local business last week.
As Whistler RCMP explained in a release, cameras captured two men taking three small paintings from the business’ gallery walls, located in the 4300 block of Blackcomb Way, on Saturday morning, Oct. 22, at about 9 a.m. The paintings had already been purchased and were to remain on display until their new owner took possession of the art.
“Each of the paintings is about the size of a photo, sizes that could easily fit into coat or shirt-type pockets,” police said in the release. The three pieces are valued at a total of $80.
Whistler RCMP said police will continue to follow up on the alleged art theft.
It was one of 85 total files that came through the Whistler RCMP detachment during the week of Oct. 18 to 25.
Woman arrested after Whistler Village altercation turns violent
A woman was arrested after a night out in Whistler Village took a violent turn on Thursday, Oct. 20.
According to a police release, members of Whistler’s RCMP detachment were patrolling on foot in the 4300 Main St. area when they witnessed “a group of people having a verbal confrontation.” The group was made up entirely of visitors who had been drinking, police explained.
That verbal altercation reportedly turned physical when a woman in the group punched a man in the face.
Police arrested the woman, who was subsequently released with a future court date.
Motorist issued three-day driving prohibition after roadside stop
Whistler RCMP’s efforts to keep impaired drivers off the resort’s roads continue this fall.
On Friday, Oct. 21, one of those drivers was identified while police conducted a traffic stop at about 3:30 a.m.
According to Whistler RCMP, the driver, from out of the area, provided breath samples that prompted “WARN readings” to appear on the screening device, “meaning he should not have been driving,” police explained.
A member of the local RCMP detachment determined the driver was impaired and subsequently seized the driver’s licence and issued a three-day notice of driving prohibition.
Whistler RCMP, RMOW to light the night purple
If you spot Whistler Village’s Fitzsimmons Bridge lit up in purple this week, this is why.
As police explained in a release, Whistler RCMP are joining forces with the Resort Municipality of Whistler to coordinate a local Purple Light Nights Campaign event, intended to raise awareness about intimate partner violence and domestic violence (IPV/DV) and send the message that neither are acceptable in the Whistler community.
October’s Purple Light Nights Campaign began in 2006 in Covington, Wash., to honour those who lost their lives to IPV/DV, support survivors, and give hope to victims who continue to
suffer abuse.
“There is no discrimination in IPV/DV, it can affect people of any culture, sexual orientation, economic background, or age,” said Const. Guneet Pannu, the Sea to Sky–Whistler RCMP detachment’s new domestic violence and sexual assault investigator, in the release. Pannu is tasked with overseeing all the detachment’s IPV/DV investigations, in addition to working with community partners and bringing local awareness to the issue.
“Of 6,296 files we investigated last year, 45 were IPV/DV related, and that’s 45 too many,” she added.
Local and area supports are available to victims through Victim Services, the Howe Sound Women’s Centre, or the Ending Violence Association of
British Columbia.
In the release, RCMP reminded locals that victims can make anonymous and third-party reports that are for police information only, if they desire, but can also submit a full report if their preferred outcome includes a police investigation and recommended charges. “Support workers can provide detailed information about reporting options,” police added in the release.
The Fitzsimmons Bridge will be lit up purple from Oct. 26 to 30. For information about IPV/DV supports, reach Whistler Victim Services at 604-905-1969, or go to hswc.ca or endingviolence.org.
