Inside scoop

DECEMBER 2nd – 8th

On December 2nd, police were notified of an enclosed trailer that fell of a truck and was in the ditch.  The owner advised he was making arrangements to have the trailer towed.

On December 3rd, police received a complaint of a vehicle on the side of highway 14 near Kinsella.  The complainant advised the vehicle was parked on a curve causing a hazard on the highway.  The vehicle was located, and noted to be missing a front tire.  Checks of the vehicle were completed and determined the vehicle was stolen.  The investigation into this matter is continuing.

On December 4th, police conducted a check on a subject who is on court conditions to abide by a curfew.  The subject was not located, a charge of failing to comply is pending.

Early that afternoon, police received a complaint of an abandoned vehicle on highway 26.  The complainant advised the vehicle has been parked there for over two weeks.  The vehicle was towed and the registered owner is being notified.

That same afternoon, police received a complaint of a motor vehicle collision involving a pedestrian.  The complainant advised while crossing the street she was struck by a motor vehicle.  The complainant advised she was uninjured.  This matter is still under investigation.

That evening, police received a complaint of a fraud.  The complainant advised that he paid for a product that he found on Facebook marketplace.  The complainant attempted several times to contact the suspect, the suspect then blocked the complainant’s number and the product was never obtained.  This matter is still under investigation.

That same evening, police received a complaint of a stolen motor vehicle.  The vehicle was parked on 50 Street in Viking and was stolen.  This investigation is ongoing.

On December 6th, police responded to an abandoned vehicle northwest of Viking backed into an approached.  Members located the vehicle and determined the vehicle was owned by a subject who lived in the area.  The vehicle had broken down and the owner was in the process of getting it repaired.

That afternoon, police received a request to conduct a wellbeing check on a resident in Viking.  The complainant advised the subject did not pick up their meal from meals on wheels the day before.  Members attended the location and located he subject who advised there was no medical emergency and he was okay.

On December 7th, police received a request to assist with the notification of the location of property.  The complainant advised he was removing property from his residence that belonged to an ex-tenant.  He advised the property will be put outside the residence on the curb.  The subject was advised of the location of the property.

During this time period, police also dealt with several motor vehicle collisions involving deer and issued violation tickets and warnings for various traffic offences.

Canadians are being warned about a gift card scam that is happening across the country, which involves the manipulation of the bar code on the back of the gift card.  Gift cards are a popular choice during the holidays due to their convenience and ease of use. However, they are also vulnerable to fraud. The Retail Council of Canada estimates losses of $3.8 million in 2021 due to gift card fraud.  Scammers take the cards home, put the stickers on, and hang them back up in the stores. The victim then pays for the card at the cash, but the funds end up on the card the scammer has at home that is linked to the sticker barcode.  One way to avoid being scammed is to send a virtual gift card, which is sent directly to the recipient's email. If you still want to give a physical gift like a gift card but don't want to risk it being tampered with, you can always opt for cash.

Inside Scoop

DECEMBER 9^TH – 15^TH

On December 9^th, police received a complaint of fraudulent purchases made with a credit card. The complainant reported he used his credit card at a local gas station and later that night was advised of 5-6 fraudulent charges by his credit card company.  He was concerned there might be a card skimmer at the gas station. His card was cancelled and replaced and the fraudulent charges were reversed.

That afternoon, police conducted a well-being check on an individual after receiving information of possible domestic abuse occurring. The person in question was spoken to and stated she did not want police involvement at this time.

On December 10^th, police received a call for assistance in removing an unwanted person from a residence in Viking.   The complainant called back a short time later and advised the person in question had departed and he did not want police to attend.

On December 11^th, police received a complaint of an abandoned vehicle parked in front of a residence in Bruce.  The complainant was concerned it might be a stolen vehicle. Police were able to contact the person who had been driving the vehicle and determined it had not been stolen. It was later removed by the driver and the complainant was updated.

On December 12^th, CN Police advised that a vehicle had struck a crossing gate causing damage to it. CN had their techs enroute and just wanted police aware.

That evening, police received a complaint of an erratic driver westbound on Highway 14. Police made patrols in the area but did not locate the vehicle in question.

On December 15^th, police received a complaint of an erratic driver on Highway 14. A patrol was made and the vehicle in question was located parked on a side road.  The driver provided a breath sample on an approved screening device as well as performed a Field Sobriety test and passed both. She advised she was tired and had pulled over to rest. She was warned about her driving and allowed to carry on her way.

That same night, police conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle that was exceeding the speed limit. The driver was issued a violation ticket for driving a motor vehicle without licence plates properly displayed.

Viking RCMP would like to thank everyone who came out and supported the “Stuff the Cruiser” event held on December 13^th  in support of our local Christmas Hamper program.  Your generosity is much appreciated.  Word on the Street will return in the New Year. Merry Christmas to all and please stay safe over the holiday season.

Inside Scoop

NOVEMBER 18^th – 24^th 

On November 18^th, police received a complaint of a break and enter at a rural property northwest of Viking.   The complainant advised that his shop was broken into and several tools were stolen.  There was no evidence or surveillance for police to follow up on.   Police have no suspects at this time.

That afternoon, a complaint of an abandoned vehicle with a Saskatchewan licence plate was received.  The complainant advised of a semi truck that was has been parked on a rural road for the past 3 days.  Members contacted the registered owner and determined the truck was not stolen, it had broken down and the owner is making arrangements to have it repaired and removed.   The complainant was updated.

On November 19^th, police received a complaint of a suspicious vehicle parked in Kinsella.  A licence plate was provided and the vehicle was not reported stolen.  The vehicle was noted located.

On November 20^th, police assisted the Dawson Creek RCMP with serving subpoena’s on residents that reside in the Viking area.  The subpoenas were served and returned to Dawson Creek.

On November 21^st, police received a request to conduct a wellbeing check on a 28-year-old male.   The complainant advised she hadn’t heard from her son and was concerned for his wellbeing.  The complainant contacted the police again and advised that her son had called her and advised he had just woke up and he was fine.

On November 21^st, police received a complaint of a motor vehicle collision on Highway 36 and Highway 26.   The complainant advised while stopped at the intersection a vehicle slid into the rear of her vehicle.  A collision report was completed, it was determined that due to the icy road conditions the vehicle was unable to stop and slid into the complainant’s vehicle.

That afternoon, a complaint of suspicious truck pulling a holiday trailer with the slide partially shut and the awning flipped up was received.  With the assistance of the Vermilion Traffic unit the vehicle was located and the driver was spoken to.  He advised he was just retrieving the trailer after it was recovered.  

That same afternoon, Viking Fire and Rescue requested the assistance of the police with a structure fire southwest of Viking.  Police were notified later that it was a controlled burn and police assistance was not required.

On November 22^nd, police conducted a search warrant at a rural location in Kinsella.  Information was received that the property owner was in possession of weapons which is a breach of his current court conditions.  Members completed the search, weapons and ammunition were seized from the location.  Charges of failing to comply with a court order are pending.

On November 22^nd, police received a complaint of a 2-vehicle motor vehicle collision in Viking.  The complainant advised she was travelling westbound and a vehicle travelling eastbound was approaching in her lane of traffic.  The vehicles front drivers’ sides collided.  There were no injuries, speed and road conditions were a factor in the collision.  The complainant did not want to proceed with charges at this time.

That same morning, police received a complaint of two suspicious people on highway 36.  The complainant advised of two subjects on highway 36 trying to wave down vehicles.  Police did not locate the subjects.

That afternoon, a cell phone was turned into the RCMP detachment.  Police have not been able to determine who the phone belongs to.

On November 23^rd, police received a complaint of a suspicious male near Bruce.  The complainant advised he located a male walking down a rural road.   The complainant spoke to the male who stated his snowmobile broke down.  The complainant gave the subject a ride and during that time the subjects story was changing, he was taken to a business in Bruce.  The owner of the business then gave the subject a ride to a business in Holden.  The complainant advised police that he attended the location where he picked the male up and located a truck with a tidy tank in the bush.  Police attended the location and determined the truck was stolen out of Vermilion earlier that morning.  Police have been provided with surveillance from the businesses, this matter is still under investigation.

That evening, police responded to a motor vehicle collision on highway 36.  The complainant advised he was travelling northbound in his semi truck when a semi truck hauling scrap metal entered his lane and sideswiped his truck and trailer.  The truck continued driving southbound.  A pickup truck travelling behind the truck witnessed the collision and collided with debris off the trucks.  Police located the truck and completed a statement from the driver.  The other semi was not located.  There were no injuries in this collision, police are continuing to investigate this matter.

As winter settles in, it’s important to stay alert, stay prepared, and stay safe. The weather can change quickly, and so can driving conditions! Remember these important tips when hitting the roads this winter to keep everyone safe.

❄️Clear Your Vehicle – Before hitting the road, take time to clear all snow and ice from your windshield, back window, mirrors, lights, and roof. It only takes a few extra minutes, and it makes a big difference in visibility and safety.

❄️Slow Down & Keep a Safe Distance – Winter roads can be slippery, even if they look clear. Reduce your speed and leave plenty of space between you and the vehicle ahead.

❄️Prepare for the Unexpected – Always have an emergency kit in your vehicle with essentials like blankets, water, snacks, a flashlight, and booster cables. You never know when you might need them, especially during Alberta’s unpredictable weather.

Inside Scoop - NOVEMBER 11^TH – 17^TH

On November 11^th, police were dispatched to an alarm at a location in Kinsella. The building was cleared and police spoke with a keyholder who advised they had been experiencing trouble with the alarm system.

Later that afternoon, police received a call for assistance from EMS as a female they were trying to assess roadside had driven away eastbound on Highway 14. A short time later, the person in question collided head on with a westbound SUV which then entered the ditch and rolled several times. A third vehicle was also hit and pushed into the ditch. Fortunately, only minor injuries were incurred by the involved parties. A 30-year-old female from Edmonton was arrested on scene and taken to a medical facility for assessment. Charges of Dangerous Operation of a Motor Vehicle Causing Bodily Harm and Resisting Arrest are pending.

That evening, police were advised of a suspicious person who had drove onto a rural property east of Viking. The property owner spoke with the male who said he needed a tire for the trailer he was pulling. He was told there were no tires available for the trailer and he eventually departed, leaving the trailer behind without the permission of the property owner.  The male did not return for the trailer in the coming days so the complainant had it towed.

Early on November 13^th, police received a complaint of a suspicious male carrying a jerry can walking on a rural road in the Kinsella area. Police made patrols in the area but did not locate the person in question.

That afternoon, police received information regarding a male who was under the influence of drugs and was threatening to drive.  Police attended the scene and spoke with the male who was visibly impaired by drugs but he was not in a vehicle when located. He stated he had no plans to drive or harm himself or anyone else so police had no grounds to arrest him or pursue the matter. The complainant was updated.

On November 14^th, police were advised of a two-vehicle collision that had occurred on Highway 26 the week prior.  This matter is still under investigation.

That afternoon, police received a complaint of mischief at a vacant property north of Viking.  The complainant advised he had found a hole in the roof of the residence and he believed it to be from a gunshot.  He did not know when this would have occurred and couldn’t provide any other details on the matter and just wanted police aware.

Late that night, police received a complaint of threats being uttered. The complainant requested police meet him at the hospital in Viking.  Police attended and spoke with the complainant but he did not provide any evidence regarding his original complaint and police had no grounds to pursue the matter.

On November 15^th, police received a complaint of aggressive dogs at a rural location southeast of Viking. The complainant advised his tenants’ dogs were causing a problem for another tenant at his property. Police referred him to the Landlord/Tenant Act as well as Alberta Animal Services a it wasn’t a criminal matter.

Also on this day, police provided assistance to Wainwright RCMP as they dealt with an attempted murder investigation.

Early on November 16^th, police received a complaint of a suspicious truck parked at a rural location south of Viking. Patrols were made but the vehicle in question was not located.

WORD ON THE STREET

NOVEMBER 4^th – 10^th 

On November 6^th, members responded to a complaint of gunshots near Lake Thomas.  When members arrived, they located a vehicle in the field.  The vehicle proceeded to accelerate towards police vehicles before coming to an abrupt stop.   Due to the nature of the complaint a high risk take down was completed.  A 46-year-old male was taken into police custody.   Investigation determined the male was discharging his firearm in the dark.  The male stated he was testing out his rifle.  A firearm was located on the front passenger seat along with several empty casing and alcohol.  The male is facing charges of possession of a weapon for dangerous purpose, careless use of a firearm, unsafe store of a firearm and transporting liquor in a vehicle when liquor is within easy access of an occupant.  He will be appearing in Vegreville Provincial Court at a later date.

 On November 7^th, police received a complaint of a truck with an unsafe load.   The complainant advised of a truck travelling on highway 14 and the load appears to have shifted looking like it may fall off.  Members were unable to locate the vehicle.

That afternoon, police received information of an occupant driving without a driver’s licence.  The subject was not located.

On November 9^th, police received a complaint of a domestic dispute near Kinsella. Police attended and spoke with the victim and learned the male in question was inside the residence, police entered the residence and arrested the male.  He was released from police custody with conditions and will be appearing in Vegreville Provincial Court at a later date.  He will be facing charges of assault causing bodily harm and uttering threats against a person.

That evening, police received a request to check on the wellbeing of a resident in Viking as she had concerns for his mental health. Police attended and spoke with the person in question but did not have the grounds to apprehend him at this time. The complainant was updated.  

The Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre would like to warn Canadians about a new variation of the bank investigator scam. Fraudsters are impersonating financial institutions and are claiming that the victim’s bank account has been compromised. Fraudsters will convince victims that in order to protect their account until a new debit card is issued, the victim must send an Interac e-transfer transaction to their own cellphone number. The suspect will instruct the victim on the steps required to add themselves as a payee and to increase their daily Interac e-transfer limit to $10,000 (note that the maximum amount that a sender may send through the Interac

e-transfer network may vary depending on the sender’s financial institution. Interac will automatically refuse to complete any payment by a sender above the limit established by the financial institution).

The suspect provides the e-transfer question and answer that the victim must use for the transfer. Once the victim sends the Interac e-transfer transaction to their own cellphone number, suspects will ask the victim for a “code” which is the last portion of the Interac e-transfer URL/link received. If the victim provides the URL, suspects will have the ability to deposit the funds into their own account. In some cases, suspects are able to provide some of the victim’s personal information which might include name, date of birth, phone number, address and debit card number to make the call seem legitimate. Additionally, suspects are spoofing financial institution phone numbers or are providing fraudulent call-back phone numbers which impersonate the financial institution.

Other variations of the bank investigator scam:

1.) Victims receive an automated phone call claiming to be their financial institution, law

enforcement or, in some cases, Amazon advising that there have been fraudulent transactions in their account. Fraudsters will request access to the victims’ computer to continue the

“investigation”. Victims are then shown a fraudulent transaction on their online bank account.

The suspects state that they want the victims' help in an ongoing “investigation” against the

criminals who stole their money and request that the victims send funds as part of the

“investigation”.

In some cases, fraudsters will add the victim as a “payee” with a fraudulent email address and

advise that the victim must transfer a large amount of money in order to protect their account.

The fraudsters will convince the victim that they have added funds to the victim’s account but,

in reality, the funds were transferred from their line of credit or savings account.

2.) Suspects may have the victims debit card number and password, but cannot access the victim’s account due to multi-factor authentication protection on their account. Suspects then proceed to contact the victim claiming to be their financial institution and will advise the victim that they must provide a code they receive via text message or email in order to confirm their identity. The code the victim provides is the multi-factor authentication code which gives the suspects full access to their bank account.

Warning Signs – How to Protect Yourself

• Criminals use Call-Spoofing to mislead victims. Do not assume that phone numbers appearing on your call display are accurate.

• If you get an incoming call claiming to be from your financial institution, advise the caller that you will call them back. End the call and dial the number on the back of your bank debit card from a different phone if possible or wait 10 minutes before making the outgoing call.

• Never provide details of links or URL’s received via text message or email to fraudsters.

• Don’t share codes received via text message or email with anyone. In most cases, these are multifactor authentication codes that will give fraudsters access to your account.

• Fraudsters will often provide the first 4 to 6 numbers of your debit or credit card. Remember that these numbers are used to identify the card issuer and are known as the Bank Identifier Number (BIN). Most debit and credit card numbers issued by specific financial institutions begin with the same 4 to 6 numbers.

• If your personal information has been compromised in the past through a breach or a phishing message, remember that the information can be used as a tool to make the communication appear legitimate.

• Never provide remote access to your computer.

• Financial institutions or online merchants will never request transferring funds to an external

account for security reasons.

• Financial institutions or police will never request you to turn over your bank card nor attend your residence to pick up your bank card.

• Enabling Auto-Deposits for Interac e-transfers provides additional layer of security

Weekly News Update Viking RCMP

OCTOBER 28^TH – NOVEMBER 3^RD  2024

On October 28^th, police were advised by Two Hills RCMP that they had located an abandoned vehicle in their area. They had contacted the registered owner of the vehicle, who had a Viking address, and he advised he was not aware the vehicle had been stolen from his property. Police have no suspects at this time.

That afternoon, police received a request to locate an individual who was believed to be residing in Viking.  Police attended the last known residence of the person in question but learned he hadn’t lived there since July. The complainant was updated.

On October 29^th, police were advised of a hit and run collision that had occurred at a local gas station.  The complainant called back later to advise police could disregard as the matter had been settled with the driver’s insurance company.

Later that morning, police received a complaint of a suspicious vehicle parked on a residential street in Viking.  Police spoke with the owner and learned he was in town for work purposes. The complainant was updated.

Also that day, police were advised of a suspicious vehicle that had drove onto a business lot in Bruce during the early morning hours. The complainant had security footage of the vehicle entering the property and a female exiting it and walking around the yard. The female then departed in the vehicle. Nothing was damaged or stolen. 

That afternoon, police received a complaint of an attempted phone scam. The complainant advised she had received a phone call from an unknown person who claimed she had won 2 million dollars thru STARS but she would have to purchase a $500 gift card from a local gas station in order to claim her prize. Fortunately, the complainant did not comply so did not become a victim of this scam.  Police would like to remind the public that you will NEVER have to pay or purchase anything in order to claim a prize won in any type of legitimate lottery.

On October 30^th, police received a complaint of a theft of 2 vehicles from a property near Bruce.  This matter is still under investigation.

That night, police received a call for assistance from a stranded motorist on Highway 26. The caller advised her vehicle had broke down and she did not feel safe waiting for a tow truck as her van was partially on the roadway. Police attended and provided traffic control until the tow truck arrived and removed the vehicle.

On October 31^st, police received a complaint of a fraud that had occurred the week prior. The complainant advised she had received a phone call from an unknown person claiming to be with Bell Mobility. The caller offered the complainant a discounted phone package and then obtained credit card details and other personal information. A short time later, the complainant was contacted by her credit card company as there was a suspicious purchase on her account. The charge was reimbursed and the credit card was cancelled.  Police are continuing to follow up on this complaint. 

On November 1^st, police received a complaint of a suspicious vehicle parked at a rural location near Viking. The complainant advised when he drove past the vehicle, the male driver pulled a hood over his head as if to hide his identity and then the vehicle departed the area. Police made a patrol and located the vehicle in question on Highway 36 just north of Viking. A traffic stop was conducted and after speaking with the driver, it was determined nothing criminal had occurred and he was allowed to continue on his way.

That afternoon, police received a complaint of trespassing on private property east of Viking.  The complainant advised he had trail cam footage of a vehicle on his property and there was also signs that someone had been burning copper wire at the location.  This matter is still under investigation.

On November 2^nd, police received a report of an erratic driver eastbound on Highway 14. Patrols were made however the vehicle in question was not located.

On November 3^rd, police received a report of a theft of property from a residence in Kinsella. The complainant called back later and advised the property had been returned and police could disregard her complaint.