Delta police this week issued alerts to both businesses and residents after seeing an increase in two areas — counterfeit money and car break-ins.
Officers are appealing to the public to be wary when handling large denomination Canadian bills after a number of reports of fake $100 notes were found circulating in the community.
Since Oct. 1, there have been three incidents where $100 Canadian counterfeit bills were passed at businesses in Tsawwassen and North Delta.
"The quality of the counterfeit $100 bills is extremely poor and the hologram has been tampered with - no hologram face, the hologram strip has been glued on and the zeros in 100 don't line up," said department spokesperson A/Sgt. Sarah Swallow.
The bills are similar to those that were being passed at Tsawwassen businesses earlier this year.
"Typically, the suspect will enter a store and pay for a small purchase of a couple of dollars with a large denomination bill, saying that they do not have any change or bank cards," Swallow said. "Once the suspect received the change from the business, they leave very quickly before the clerk has had a chance to look at the bill and realize it is counterfeit."
The Bank of Canada offers the following tips to merchants who suspect they have been offered a counterfeit bill:
Assess the situation to ensure that you are not at risk. Then do the following:
• Politely refuse the note and explain that you suspect it may be counterfeit.
• Ask for another note (and check it too).
• Advise the person to check the note with local police.
• Inform your local police of a possible attempt to pass suspected counterfeit money.
Be courteous. Remember that the person in possession of the bill could be an innocent victim who does not realize the note is suspicious.
For more information about counterfeit Canadian currency visit www.bankofcanada.ca/banknotes/counterfeit-prevention.
Police have also recently seen an increase in the number of thefts from parked vehicles in Ladner, Tsawwassen and North Delta.
"In many of these cases, the vehicles were left insecure and/or valuable personal belongings were left in the vehicles in plain sight," Swallow said.
Delta police are reminding residents to never leave valuables in a vehicle, even if they're hidden from view.
"Even small change or sunglasses can be enough of an incentive for thieves to break in," Swallow said.
The department offers a number of tips for residents to help reduce the risk of theft:
• Use an anti-theft device.
• Always lock your vehicle.
• Remove all possessions from your vehicle, including small change, sunglasses, music players, electronics, brief cases, etc.
• Do not leave your garage door opener in your car.
• Even if you are only parking for a short period of time, remove all valuables.
• Park in well-lit areas near pedestrian traffic.
"As with any suspicious circumstance, Delta police urge you to call police and report any incident that is of concern to you, even if the suspect was unsuccessful at completing their crime," Swallow said.
Delta residents can call the department's non-emergency line at 604-946-4411 24 hours a day, seven days a week, or call 911 in an emergency.
